ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Plus is all India ‘star’ in GECs, while Sun shines brightest among regional channels: IRS 2006

    Plus is all India ‘star’ in GECs, while Sun shines brightest among regional channels: IRS 2006

    MUMBAI: While in the regional space, Star Plus has managed to rise up on the charts more than any other Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) in the last five years; the story is no different as far as the Top 10 television channels in the country are concerned.

    Since 2000, Star’s flagship channel has managed to topple DD2/Metro, Sony, Zee TV and Zee Cinema to claim the second position with a viewership share of nine per cent in 2006. DD1 (National Network) has maintained its top position over the years.

    DD1’s viewership in the Top 10 TV channels in the All India market in 2006 is 27.4 per cent as compared to its share of 43.2 per cent in 2000 according to the findings of IRS Round I done by Hansa Research and Media Research Users Council (MRUC). Going by these numbers, DD1 viewership on an all India basis has dropped by almost half in the last five years.

    DD2/Metro, which was second in line in 2000 with a share of 11 per cent has completely gone off the Top 10 television channels list in 2006.

    Sony Entertainment Television, on the other hand, which was the number three channel in 2000 with a viewership share of 9.4 per cent, has fallen to the seventh position in 2006 and currently has a share of 4.6 per cent. Rival channel Zee TV saw an even steeper fall over the years, but all the same has maintained its place in the Top 10 television channels list. From its third position in 2000 with a share of 9.2 per cent, Zee TV lost 5.6 per cent share to other channels and fell straight to the tenth position this year with a share of 3.6 per cent.

    The reason for the drop in Sony and Zee’s channel shares, which were the third and fourth best viewed channels after the national channels in 2000, could be because of the change in the program genre of these channels. Both channels focused more on music shows and game shows to garner viewership, reasons Hansa Research marketing and client servicing India head V Sudarshan.

    Going by the data thrown up, the fact remains that viewers are still hooked to the soaps and serials, which is clearly indicated by Star Plus viewership numbers, predominantly garnered by the ‘K’ serials. However, now both Sony and Zee have a robust line up of dramas like Thodi Khushi Thode Gham, Aisa Desh Hai Mera, Saath Phere and Jabb Love Hua in the primetime. Hence it remains to be seen whether the channels’ popularity soars on the charts riding on these shows. Zee TV’s Saath Phere, for one, has been consistently delivering for the channel in terms of ratings.

    While three channels from the Top 10 All India list have disappeared from the charts in 2006, three other channels have made their entry. DD2/Metro (second position), Star Sports (seventh position) and DD10 Marathi (eighth position), which were on the charts in 2000 seem to have made way for DD News (third position), Aaj Tak (fourth position) and Sun TV (fifth position) in 2006.

    One of the interesting trend that is seen in the current Top 10 and the Top 10 five years back is that in 2000, no news channel made its way to the Top 10 list. Whereas in 2006, DD News and Aaj Tak have been featured.

    “This explains a very big phenomenon, that there are possibilities that these news channels are now eating into the share of the print medium, and it could be that people are now preferring to tune rather than turn, for their news requirement. Viewers are interested in current news, and not yesterday’s news and this also reiterates the fact, why magazine readership has come down so dramatically over the period,” said Sudarshan.

    One channel that has maintained a consistent performance on the charts since 2000 is Zee Cinema. In term of viewership share, the channel has dropped only marginally from 6 per cent in 2000 to 5.3 per cent in 2006 and is now placed in the sixth position as opposed to its fifth position in 2000.

    Among the regional channels, apart from Sun TV, that have made a mark in the Top 10 channels in the All India market in 2006, are ETV (4.4 per cent) and Gemini TV (4.1 per cent) in the eighth and ninth position respectively.

  • Former Disney honcho Eisner turns his attention to IPTV

    Former Disney honcho Eisner turns his attention to IPTV

    MUMBAI: Former Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner and media conglomerate Time Warner have invested in a startup that aims to build a delivery platform for IPTV.

    Media reports indicate that Eisner’s venture capital group Tornante Company together with Spark Capital and Time Warner will be investing a total of $12.5 billion in the company. How much Eisner is exactly pumping into the venture is another unknown.

    The San Diego based Veoh Networks is building a system for delivering broadcast-quality entertainment and informational content via the Internet, using distribution technology, the firm says will allow for unlimited capacity. Veoh envisions marketing its platform to everyone from independent video producers and hobbyists to large studios.

    In a statement Eisner said, “Cable and satellite fundamentally changed the way television was distributed by creating the capacity for greater choice in programming. Veoh revolutionises television again by leveraging the Internet to expand broadcast capacity to the point that every single user, whether an individual or a media company, can create their own `channel` and every `channel` can be supported by its own business model.

    “In the past, distributing television programming required an enormous broadcast infrastructure. Veoh enables anyone with an Internet connection to distribute and receive programming in the highest quality.”

    Eisner will be a member of the board of directors of Veoh Networks.Under Veoh’s model, TV networks and individuals will be able to programme their own channels on the service. At the moment, it shows programming already in the public domain and content sent by users.

    Veoh founder and CEO Dmitry Shapiro says, “Having Michael involved in the company gives us incredible credibility, experience and knowledge, not to mention the contacts”.

  • Mike Phillips returns to BBC Worldwide

    Mike Phillips returns to BBC Worldwide

    MUMBAI: Mike Phillips will to return to UK pubcaster BBC’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide in a consultative capacity.

    He will work as an executive producer, theatrical films, on projects such as Earth, the feature film produced in parallel with the series Planet Earth and other factually based theatrical titles that BBC Worldwide plans to develop in the future. Before relinquishing corporate duties, Mike was deputy CEO at BBC Worldwide, responsible for managing the relationships with BBC production departments and with independent producers; for rights acquisition and investment in programmes; for marketing and communications and for exploiting programme formats through the international production business.

    BBC Worldwide director of content and production Wayne Garvie said, “Mike has an incredible passion for films and is also very well connected in the industry. There’s no-one better to work with producer, Alastair Fothergill and our partners in Greenlight Media to ensure that Earth is an outstanding production and to develop other ideas for the international market.”

    Phillips said, “The success of our oceans movie, Deep Blue, alongside other factually based films like Fahrenheit 9/11, Touching The Void and March Of The Penguins has created tremendous international interest in the genre. With Earth we have a uniquely ambitious project, already pre-sold in key territories. In addition, we are developing a number of other strong stories both with BBC producers and with UK independent firms.”

  • China associates with Venezuela for broadcaster training, program exchange

    China associates with Venezuela for broadcaster training, program exchange

    MUMBAI: Venezuela and China have signed a mutual agreement on program exchange and training of television and radio broadcast professionals.

    The deal was signed between Venezuelan communications minister William Lara, and deputy head of China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) Tian Jin, said a Venezuelan communications ministry statement.

    As per the agreement, Venezuela will broadcast two channels of Central China Television programs in Venezuela and will also have access to China Radio International’s programs in a variety of languages. “Radio, television and cinema are the frontline” of Venezuela’s revolution, and the Latin American country needs China’s know how to fight on this terrain”, said Lara.

    Tian expressed hope that the cultural and information exchange would boost friendship between the two nations, as radio and television are the easiest ways to get information.

  • TV18 to pump in Rs 2.5 billion in new ventures, raise Rs 3 billion equity

    TV18 to pump in Rs 2.5 billion in new ventures, raise Rs 3 billion equity

    MUMBAI: Television Eighteen India Ltd. board has approved a Rs 2.5 billion expansion plan in new ventures and potential acquisitions.

    The majority of these projects are intended to be in the television, internet and “triple convergence” areas. “We are looking at expansion on the TV, internet and even at opportunities on the mobile space. For all these new ventures that we get into, we will not go alone but with globally reputed partners,” says TV18 CEO Haresh Chawla.

    While some of the investments will create greenfield projects, others are likely to result in acquisitions of operating companies. “A significant amount of this investment shall be raised by the sale of strategic stakes in some of these downstream subsidiary companies to globally reputed investors. The company will seek shareholder approval for these investments in accordance with law, as the investment plans firm up,” the company informed the BSE.

    The board also authorised the management to seek shareholders approval for raising Rs three billion in equity over a period of time. “At the present stage, the management is seeking only an enabling approval from its shareholders. The management does not expect to issue any immediate equity under this approval,” the company said.

  • AOL partners with Shanghai Media Group to beam programs

    AOL partners with Shanghai Media Group to beam programs

    MUMBAI: The Internet unit of Time Warner, AOL is set to begin carrying news content from Shanghai Media Group on its Chinese-language website.

    The programs will be available to users of http://aol.com/chinese, which carries news and programming, webcasts of sports events and other Internet services related to China.
    Shows will be broadcast on AOL’s Chinese language Web site and will focus on Chinese social, business, sports and entertainment topics. Said SMG Broadband spokeswoman Wang Xiaotang,”AOL aims to broadcast that content to Chinese all over the world.”

    SMG will provide more than three hours per day to its U.S.-based partner MediaZone, which worked with AOL on the Chinese-language portal. MediaZone is a worldwide provider of online television programming and a partner in China of AOL and Shanghai Media Group.

    According to AOL’s Web site, its Chinese language Web site was developed with ChinaPortal.com, a MediaZone division.

    “By creating this free, language-specific portal, we can better serve the millions of people in the United States who want access to critical features and communications tools, especially the latest news and entertainment video, in Chinese,” said AOL Web strategy executive Norman Koo in a statement.

    State-owned Shanghai Media Group was formed from the merger of the city’s government-run radio and television stations in 2001 and ranks as one of China’s biggest media and entertainment conglomerates.

  • NBC offers entertainment at gas stations

    NBC offers entertainment at gas stations

    MUMBAI: The media landscape is changing and how! The NBC Universal Television Stations group and VST Media Network are partnering to grab eyeballs at the gas pumps. It will deliver customized local news, weather, sports and entertainment video and headlines to on-pump screens at gas stations on daylight-viewable 17-inch screens with stereo speakers.

    The deal will deliver programming to 17 Shell gas stations in Los Angeles, but by year’s end, VST plans to have 500 stations in L.A., San Francisco and San Diego. VST will also add screens at other gas stations across the country in markets with NBC O&O’s.The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

    Programming is in three-minute bursts, which are activated when pumping begins. That duration was determined to be the average amount of time people spend filling up their gas. “Not to sound too corny, but as you’re filling your tank, we’re filling your mind,” said NBC Universal Television Stations digital media and strategic marketing evp Ric Harris.

    The programming, which will be updated twice daily, will come from local newscasts at the NBC stations in each market, and will be coordinated through NBC’s KNTV in San Francisco.

    The programming is also a vehicle for 15-second ads, which will run between breaks. State Farm Insurance and Tropicana are on board as initial advertisers. The ads try to entice gas pumpers to enter mini-marts. State Farm, which is advertising its car insurance with an ad that compares the high price of gas with the premiums the company’s competitors charge. “It’s utilizing a car moment to bring up car insurance,” said State Farm assistant vp for advertising Mark Gibson.

    According to NBC Universal, each participating gas station averages at least 20,000 pump visits per month

  • NDTV clocks 24.5 % growth in FY06; revenues Rs 2.24 billion

    NDTV clocks 24.5 % growth in FY06; revenues Rs 2.24 billion

    MUMBAI: Prannoy Roy’s NDTV has recorded 24.49 percent growth in fiscal 2005-06 with total revenues of Rs 2.239 billion.

    NDTV’s revenues were up from the Rs 1.798 billion recorded in fiscal 2004-05, the company has stated.

    Q4 FY’ 06 saw NDTV hitting its highest ever revenues at Rs 704.4 million versus Rs 497 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, representing a 41.73 per cent year-on-year growth.

    Expectedly, the rise in personnel costs took a huge chunk out of the company’s net with profit after tax after ESOP for Q4 FY’ 06 standing at Rs 20.1 million. If ESOPs are discounted then net profit for Q4 has increased 22 per cent to Rs 125.5 million as against Rs 102.9 million in Q4 FY’ 05. There were no ESOPs granted last year.

    Following the results, NDTV has declared a dividend of 20 per cent.

    BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

    During the year the company made significant investments in building new businesses and strengthening and consolidating its existing business.

    NDTV’s advertising base has seen an impressive growth this year. The network has added 637 new advertisers and 810 new brands in its portfolio, taking its advertising universe to over 2000. A reflection of the group’s marketing strength is also the strategic tie-up with the Microsoft Network, under which NDTV’s subsidiary, NDTV Media Ltd represents and carries out all marketing activity for MSN exclusively in India.

    The reach of the NDTV News Network’s unduplicated reach amongst C&S households has increased to 90.8 per cent, the highest amongst all news networks. NDTV has also extended its global presence across Africa, Asia, Europe and the US. This year it entered into strategic tie-ups with DirecTV, BskyB and ATN to launch NDTV 24×7 in the US, UK and Canada respectively.

    NDTV’s website ndtv.com has emerged as India’s number one news and television portal, attracting over 200 million page views and 1.2 million unique visitors every month. The focus on monetizing the website by adding transaction based portals – Travel, Gadgets, Shopping, Commodities, Profit, Movies and Music, has begun to drive revenues this year.

    “In this year the company has put in significant investments into building new businesses and going forward we are committed to maximizing shareholder value by capitalizing on these investments,” NDTV chairman Dr Prannoy Roy was quoted in the statement as saying.

    Additionally, NDTV has entered into an agreement with Genpact a leading business and technology services company, to jointly offer outsourcing services to the global media and entertainment industry. This is the first of its kind Media Process Outsourcing company in India which will focus on providing cost effective, high quality media services.

    This year also heralded NDTV’s entry into high end-consultancy for news services. The company has entered into a joint venture agreement with Astro Broadcast of Malaysia to provide consultancy for setting up news channels in Malaysia and Indonesia. The Indonesian channel will be launched shortly.

    The NDTV Group, together with other strategic investors, also acquired a minority shareholding in 3 radio companies that hold licenses for FM radio broadcasting in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata under the brand name of RED FM. The company sees tremendous cross media synergies in extending its presence in the radio sector.

  • Queen to visit BBC on 80th anniversary of Royal Charter

    Queen to visit BBC on 80th anniversary of Royal Charter

    MUMBAI: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II will visit BBC Broadcasting House on 20 April to mark the 80th anniversary of the granting of the Corporation’s Royal Charter.

    The Queen will officially re-open the original Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London, which has recently been refurbished as a part of the redevelopment of the site.

    The Queen will be shown a model outlining building project plans for Broadcasting House by Sir Richard MacCormac, architect, and the BBC’s chief operating officer, John Smith, and will view a display of digital radio technology and Broadcasting House artefacts.

    The digital radio technology consists of :-

    >A DAB digital radio featuring an electronic programme guide (EPG)

    >A wi-fi radio, which can pick up, via wireless broadband, internet radio stations around the world including all the BBC’s national stations

    >A plasma TV screen with a Freeview box, displaying the BBC’s 24/7 radio service via digital TV

    >A laptop computer demonstrating listening to radio via the internet on the BBC Radio Player

    >Mobile devices capable of receiving radio services -i.e.- The iPod featuring a selection of the BBC’s podcasts and a new mobile telephone with DAB radio access

    The Broadcasting House artefacts consist of: a ‘royal’ microphone used by King George V for Christmas broadcasts in the 1930s. The ‘King’s Radio’, a specially created version of a high quality radio set made by Murphy, the electronics manufacturer, and presented to King George V. The model was subsequently known to the public as the ‘King’s Radio.’ Also, a cigar box in the form of Broadcasting House presented to Lord Reith on his 10th anniversary as manager/director-general of the British Broadcasting Company/Corporation.

    The Queen will then watch a production for BBC 7’s The Big Toe Radio Show and will meet presenters Kirsten O’Brien and Kevin Duala and young competition winners in the Drama studio.

    The Queen will also view a recording for Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and meet presenter Jenni Murray, programme engineers and interviewees Dr Sarah Childs from Bristol University and Dr Rosie Campbell from Birkbeck College, London.

  • CNN to air new monthly show ‘Revealed’

    CNN to air new monthly show ‘Revealed’

    MUMBAI: News channel CNN has expanded its programme line up with a new half hour monthly show Revealed This presents an intimate portrayal of those most admired in the worlds of business, the arts, science and sport commencing this April.

    Each month the show follows a different high profile individual’s every step in the run-up to a crucial event in their professional lives, travelling with them and gaining exclusive behind-the-scenes access. The first episode features British fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood.

    The public personas of high profile personalities are often familiar due to press coverage and TV appearances and although these people are well known, they can also be elusive. The show provides an insight into their lifestyles, passions and inspirations; workspace and motivations.

    Westwood allows the show to spend time with her during the run-up to Paris Fashion Week meeting the people who have shaped her life and venturing into the future, looking at where her work is taking her. The show airs on 15 April at 5 pm, 16 April at 1 pm, 7 pm and on 17 April at 7 pm

    Westwood says, “On the one hand, I’m called avant garde, and on the other hand I know that ideas come from tradition, they come from the technique of tradition, and they come from looking at wonderful things that people did in the past. My opinions are formed from brilliant thinkers. ”

    CNN International senior VP Rena Golden said, “We are delighted to maintain CNN’s tradition of quality programming and expand our feature program line up with Revealed, a show that continues to demonstrate our access to high profile names. Revealed moves away from its traditional presenter-led format and is filmed as a ‘fly on the wall’ documentary, a new style for CNN.”