ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Hockey India teams up with Yashraj Mukhate for inspiring anthem for 2024 Paris Olympics

    Hockey India teams up with Yashraj Mukhate for inspiring anthem for 2024 Paris Olympics

    Mumbai: Hockey India, in an unprecedented initiative, has collaborated with music producer and social media sensation Yashraj Mukhate to create a special anthem to cheer on the Indian Men’s Hockey Team as they compete for top honours at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The anthem, a vibrant and energetic tribute, encapsulates the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie among Indian hockey players, uniting fans and players alike in their common goal of bringing joy and pride to the nation.

    The anthem, which beautifully captures the essence of hockey and the dedication of the players, aims to rekindle the nation’s passion for the sport and bolster the Indian hockey team’s morale. The initiative reflects Hockey India’s continuous support for the team, emphasizing the importance of national pride and unity as the team progresses through the tournament.

    Indian Men’s Hockey Team Captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed his excitement about the anthem, stating, “This anthem truly resonates with the spirit of our team. It’s amazing to see the support from Hockey India and the entire nation. It motivates us to give our best on the field and make our country proud.”

    Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh added, “The anthem is a fantastic way to energize and connect with our fans back home. It’s a reminder of the support we have and the dreams we carry with us. We are grateful to Hockey India and Yashraj Mukhate for this incredible gesture.”

    The Indian team, placed in Group B, has shown remarkable performance in their Paris Olympics campaign so far. They began with a thrilling 3-2 victory against New Zealand, followed by an intense 1-1 draw with Argentina. Their latest triumph, a 2-0 win over Ireland, helped them secure their place in the Quarter-Finals, making them one of the first two teams to reach this stage at the Paris Olympics.

    Meanwhile, Yashraj Mukhate, known for his innovative musical creations, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “I was thrilled to finally get the opportunity to create something outside the usual humorous zone that people often associate with my work. This song required crafting a beat that was patriotic, energetic, and motivational without being dull. I relished the challenge and found it incredibly rewarding. Moreover, it was a great honour to contribute something to our Indian Hockey Team.”

    Yashraj, who began his music career by sharing original compositions and mashups on social media, has garnered a substantial following with 5.2 million subscribers on YouTube and 2.5 million followers on Instagram. His unique style and creative approach have made him a household name, and his involvement in this project brings fresh and dynamic energy to the anthem.

  • Star India ends $1.5 billion deal with Zee Entertainment for ICC TV rights

    Star India ends $1.5 billion deal with Zee Entertainment for ICC TV rights

    Mumbai: Star India has ended its $1.5 billion deal with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd for ICC TV rights, as announced in a regulatory filing by Zee Entertainment on 20 June. The dispute between the two companies, which began with Star India’s arbitration proceedings on 14 March, is being resolved through the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

    The agreement, originally formed on 26 August  2022, was a sublicensing arrangement for ICC TV rights covering Men’s and Under-19 (U-19) global cricket events through 2027. However, Zee Entertainment’s subsequent failed merger with Sony Pictures Networks India left it unable to fulfill its obligations under the deal as an independent entity.

    Zee Entertainment has informed Star India of its inability to continue with the agreement and has requested a refund of Rs 69 crore that was already paid. The deal’s performance was contingent on several conditions, including the submission of financial and corporate guarantees and final ICC approval, which were not met.

    Additionally, Zee has accumulated Rs 72.14 crore in bank guarantee commissions and interest expenses related to its share of guarantees and deposits. Zee contends that Star India’s failure to secure necessary approvals and execute required documents amounts to a breach of the agreement, leading Zee to repudiate the contract.

  • Zee turns around, onward to healthy growth

    Zee turns around, onward to healthy growth

    Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Z IN) reported healthy revenue growth, led by increased subscription revenue (8.8 per cent  YoY) given price hikes due to implementation of NTO 3.0 and higher revenue from Zee5. So, expect subscription revenue to grow in the range of 6-7 per cent YoY, near term. Ad revenue was muted as it declined 3 per cent YoY, but this was on the back of ad spends moving away from GECs to properties such as T20 WC, General Elections and IPL. We expect ad revenue momentum to pick up in the near term, helped by: 1) positive impact from the festive season, 2) higher spends by FMCG companies and 3) traction in regional GECs. Ad revenue for Z may grow in the range of 3-5 per cent YoY in the near-to-medium term, as TV medium shows resilience amongst other traditional media genres.

    Much needed respite for margin

    Z has reported healthy margin improvement of 470bps YoY to 12.7 per cent, largely helped by: 1) better subscription revenue, 2) lower losses in Zee5, 3) lower employee expenses and 4) cost cutting initiatives in technology. EBITDA margin may see further acceleration, helped by better ad growth in the festive season and consistent cost cutting initiatives. Losses in the digital business (Zee5) have come down by 48 per cent, as quarterly loss is now at Rs 1,777mn (reported), versus an average quarterly loss of INR 2,718mn (average of past four quarters). Zee5 continues to report healthy performance with 15 per cent  YoY growth in Q1 revenue, despite cost cutting initiatives. We expect a sharp improvement of 550bps in EBITDA margin to 16.0 per cent by FY27E.

    Await FCCB cash deployment plan

    We believe raising capital is a mild positive for Z, basis its deployment to generate higher returns. These proceeds from FCCBs (of up to INR 20,000 mn) will come in a phased manner. This will ensure steady cash flow, to: 1) combat increased competitive intensity (merger of RIL/Disney) and 2) use in potential acquisitions, if any.

    We believe it is also likely that Z may acquire channels of RIL/Disney, if viewership share or market share in certain genres is high and is not approved by CCI (Competition Commission of India). As per our assessment, RIL/Disney have bigger overlaps in the urban GEC genre, which is Z’s weakness, given the latter’s strength in the regional markets. The cash infusion can also be used to acquire potential digital assets/OTT platforms. We believe there is a high likelihood of the funds being deployed for inorganic purposes, than organic.

    Issuance of FCCBs will be treated as a debt instrument for now, until converted into equity shares post maturity or earlier. Assuming that every tranche is of Rs 2bn, there will be an interest expense of Rs 100 mn for Z, which will have a natural forex hedge, as 5-7 per cent of Z’s revenue (Rs 6,000-7,000mn) is international ($ based). So, there may be no hit on earnings for now each time a tranche is raised, as the money may be deployed in liquid funds temporarily, until the final purpose is decided per opportunities. Post deployment, each tranche of Rs 2,000mn will have a negative impact of 1.2 per cent  on Z’s earnings due to interest outgo.

    Overall, this could be a win-win for FCCB investors, as they get to pay a coupon rate of 5 per cent and purchase bonds at CMP of Z. This is attractive at 8x forward P/E – core broadcasting segment (basis FY26E). There is a high likelihood of incremental upside over coupon rates for the investors, basis: 1) pick up in TV advertising, 2) margin improvement, and 3) strong growth in the digital segment. Some part of the FCCB proceeds can also be used internally to fund content acquisitions on digital/OTT side, which can drive scale for Zee5 as a platform, and positively impact digital business’ valuations. We do not foresee any major investment in sports by Z in the near term, as all major properties such as IPL, World Cup and BCCI rights, will come up for renewal in the next 3-4years.

    The management has largely identified a plan to deploy this cash and allocation towards growth initiatives is a key monitorable, as per our assessment.

    Valuation: Reiterate BUY with a higher TP of Rs 210

    Z is estimated to report strong earnings CAGR of 17.2 per cent  (FY25E-27E), led by strong margin improvement and better revenue growth. Raising FCCBs in tranches will not hit earnings, but allocation of this capital is a monitorable. The management has guided for an EBITDA margin of 18-20 per cent by FY26, which could provide respite and drive valuation re-rating.

    Z (core broadcasting) is currently trading at inexpensive valuation of 8.0x FY26E P/E. We raise earnings estimates by 8.4 per cent/6.9 per cent for FY26E/27E, factoring in better margin performance – Maintain BUY. We roll over to raised Sep’25E SoTP-TP of INR 210 (from INR 180). We value the broadcasting business at 11x (from 10x) one-year forward P/E and OTT at 3.0x (unchanged) one-year forward EV/sales.

    The credit of this article goes to Elara Capital SVP Karan Taurani. 

  • Zee posts turnaround; reports profit of Rs 118 crore

    Zee posts turnaround; reports profit of Rs 118 crore

    Mumbai: Subhash Chandra’s use of the axe at Zee Entertainment Enterprises seems to be yielding results. The goateed entrepreneur has taken charge over the past six months and has been focusing on reducing costs and getting Zee ship into shipshape. This is showing up in the first quarter 2025 accounts released earlier today.

    EBITDA margins at 12.8 per cent; year on year increased by 500bps, aided by effective cost management and lower interests costs and rise in other income (Rs 19 crore vs Rs 14.5 crore). Net profit during the quarter was at Rs 118.1 crore which is a 784.16 per cent increase quarter on quarter.

    Overall Q1 FY25 revenue rose to Rs 2130.5 crore (as against Rs 1983.8 crores in previous year’s corresponding quarter.

    Thanks to the surfeit of cricket and elections, the network share fell from 16.8 per cent to 16.4 per cent in the latest quarter. In keeping with the drop, domestic advertising fell 3.6 per cent at Rs 911.3 crore (Rs 940.9 crore), even as subscription revenue rose to Rs 987.2 crore (Rs 907.5 crore). International advertising revenue was at Rs 424 crore whereas subscription revenue was at Rs 102.4 crore. Its domestic weekly impressions grew from 28.5 billion to 28.7 billion.

    The company in its earnings release has stated that it expects its margins to improve through the rest of the year even as it keeps a tight eye on costs. It however has cautioned that the amount margins improve will depend on how ad revenue picks up in the second half.

    On the digital front, its streaming platform Zee5’s revenue increased 15.3 percent to Rs 223.7 crore in Q1 from Rs 193.9 crore in the year-ago period.

    The Zee share price is quoted around the Rs 151 mark at the time of writing.

  • Sony Sports flags off anti-drugs movement

    Sony Sports flags off anti-drugs movement

    MUMBAI: Drugs and their abuse are two of the most worrisome habits amongst India’s youth. And Sony Sports Network has put its best foot behind an effort to curtail the consumption of hallucinogens. Titled ‘Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar,’ its mission is to motivate Indian youth and do it over the long term.

    According to a United Nations study, approximately 13 percent of drug abuse victims in India are below 20, with the nation experiencing a 70 percent rise in narcotic consumption over the past eight years. And in most instances, drugs are usually introduced to youngsters  by someone they know, in many cases, a friend.

    “Sony Sports Network is extremely proud to launch the Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar’ movement and we sincerely believe that sports has the power to instil and bring about a positive change among the youth,” says  Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer -distribution & international business and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul. “In association with India’s top athletes across disciplines, we are confident of making a statement and inspiring young India to stay away from the influence of drugs.”

    Prominent athletes of India across disciplines have joined hands with Sony Sports Network to spread the Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar message to young India. In the films, these sporting icons are spreading awareness of the harmful effects of drugs and aiming to inspire as well as encourage people to choose the life of a champion by saying no to drugs.

    Newly appointed head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, Gautam Gambhir, football stalwarts like Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia, multiple grand slam winner Sania Mirza, icons like Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, Indian Hockey veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, Indian men’s hockey team’s former captain Manpreet Singh and two-time world champion boxer Nikhat Zareen are featured in these films. In addition to this, Indian football team captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, former team India cricketer Ashish Nehra, team India cricketer Deepak Chahar, Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal, ace Indian shooter Anjum Moudgil, Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, Asian Games gold medallist Chirag Shetty and Satwik Rankireddy, Puja Tomar who created history as the first Indian to win a fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Indian women’s team bowler Sneh Rana are just some of eminent personalities who have come forward to be a part of Sony Sports Network’s public service movement.

    ‘Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar’ is aimed at potential first-time drug users to make the right choice and saying NO to sampling drugs. The whole movement of Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar aims to motivate young India and emphasize living a fit, fulfilling, and healthy life through sports rather than succumbing to drug abuse.

  • Prodapt appoints Manish Vyas as MD & CEO

    Prodapt appoints Manish Vyas as MD & CEO

    Mumbai: Prodapt, a provider of consulting, engineering and transformation services for the telecom and technology industry, announced the appointment of Manish Vyas as MD and chief executive officer (CEO).

    Manish joined Prodapt as executive director earlier this year, bringing with him over 23 years of experience at Tech Mahindra. He brings a deep understanding of building scaled businesses in the CMT industry, having led multiple lines of global businesses.

    Prodapt founder and chairman Vedant Jhaver said: “The Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Manish Vyas as CEO and MD of Prodapt. Manish steps into a strong Prodapt platform and a recognised leader in the CMT space. I have worked closely with Manish over the past few months and witnessed his strategic thinking, focus on talent development, and customer-centric mindset. I am sure Manish will drive our business to achieve scale and further propel Prodapt’s offerings and capabilities to becoming AI-first and AI-at-core.”

    Vedant also extended gratitude to Harsha Kumar for his leadership and contributions over the past eight years: “I want to thank Harsha for his exceptional leadership and the many milestones Prodapt has achieved under his guidance. Harsha will be transitioning to an advisory role at Prodapt, continuing to support the Board.”

    Manish Vyas shared his excitement upon his appointment: “Prodapt is a unique and world-class company with thousands of highly talented and proud Prodaptians. I am honoured and grateful to Vedant and the Prodapt board for this incredible opportunity to be part of this remarkable institution. Along with Prodapt’s brilliant leadership teams, we are committed to becoming the most customer-centric and innovative company powered by an AI-first approach. I also want to extend my appreciation to the Prodapt ecosystem partners as we continue our mission to build disruptive solutions for our esteemed customers.”

  • News18 Kerala leads YouTube viewership with 118.38M views

    News18 Kerala leads YouTube viewership with 118.38M views

    Mumbai: News18 Kerala has emerged as the top regional voice on YouTube, becoming the most-viewed news channel in India from 22nd July to 28th July 2024. The channel garnered an impressive 118.38 million views on YouTube during this period and has set a new benchmark in digital news consumption.

    This data, sourced from Playboard Most Viewed, India report, 22 July to 28 July highlights the growing influence and reach of News18 Kerala on digital platforms, marking a significant achievement in the competitive news landscape.

  • Cartoon Network and POGO launches 17th edition of School Contact Program

    Cartoon Network and POGO launches 17th edition of School Contact Program

    Mumbai: Continuing the success of one of India’s largest-ever school outreach programmes, Cartoon Network and POGO, are set to engage with one million children across nearly 1400 schools as part of the 17th edition of the School Contact Program (SCP). With rollout beginning this week, the longstanding tentpole initiative will have kids across 17 cities engaging with their favourite characters as the channels continue to foster imagination and inspiration among young minds.

    The School Contact Program (SCP) will spotlight two celebrated themes this year. Cartoon Network’s multi-award-winning theme ‘Titans of Tomorrow,’ emphasizes crucial virtues such as recycling and energy conservation, encouraging children to take an active role in creating a sustainable future just like the DC’s Teen Titans! POGO with its much-applauded theme ‘Heroes of Kindness’, will continue its focus on fostering a positive, empathetic community by inspiring acts of kindness among young fans. The SCP will be rolled out across Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Nagpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Indore.

    Warner Bros. Discovery head of kids cluster, South Asia Uttam Pal Singh said, “We are excited to launch the 17th edition of the School Contact Program and continue with our commitment to foster a sustainable and compassionate society. With the 2023 themes ‘Titans of Tomorrow’ and ‘Heroes of Kindness’, SCP became one of our most successful programs and we aim to continue building on the success by inspiring students to embody values that will contribute to a kind and future-forward world. This program has been a cornerstone of our outreach efforts, and we look forward to its continued success in nurturing the next generation of leaders and changemakers.”

    Talking about the 17th Edition of the School Contact Program, Warner Bros. Discovery head of advertising sales, South Asia Tanaz Mehta said, “We are thrilled to reintroduce the 17th Edition of the School Contact Program. For 16 years, this initiative has been a powerful tool for our partner brands, enabling them to connect with children through beloved cartoon characters and make a significant impact with their new launches and initiatives. Thank you to our partners for their ongoing support and collaboration; we look forward to the opportunities ahead and another year of impactful engagement and inspiration.”

    As a key component of this year’s engagement program, each participating school will host a vibrant forty-minute thematic session. These sessions will feature a range of interactive activities designed to engage students, including fun icebreakers, compelling discussions on sustainability, and prompts to encourage acts of kindness in their daily lives. The program will also involve hands-on projects focused on environmental care. The sessions will conclude with a special ceremony where students will pledge to adopt responsible practices for a better planet. To celebrate their active involvement, students will receive delightful goodie bags and certificates from POGO and Cartoon Network, further motivating them to lead and inspire positive change.

    Warner Bros. Discovery head of marketing, South Asia Janhavi Vyas commented, “The School Contact Program has always been about more than just education; it’s about creating memorable experiences that inspire and empower young minds. By building on the success of last year’s themes and expanding our reach, we hope to make a lasting impact on children across India.”

    Cartoon Network’s ‘Titans of Tomorrow’ is co-powered by ITC Classmates and Dettol Handwash, with Kellogg’s Multigrain Chocos and Winkies as associate sponsors. POGO’s ‘Heroes of Kindness’ have Kellogg’s Multigrain Chocos, Exo Antibacterial Dishwash Bar, Tata Soulfull Ragi Bites Choco Stick, and Britannia The Laughing Cow as associate sponsors. This diverse sponsorship lineup highlights Warner Bros. Discovery’s strong appeal and reach among leading brands. 

  • Sony BBC Earth premieres ‘Planet Earth III’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough

    Sony BBC Earth premieres ‘Planet Earth III’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough

    Mumbai: Sony BBC Earth has announced the premiere of ‘Planet Earth III’, the latest addition to the groundbreaking and award-winning Planet Earth series. The eight-part series follows some of the world’s most amazing species and narrates extraordinary stories depicting drama, thrill, humor, and emotions. Presented by Sir David Attenborough, the show will premiere on Sony BBC Earth on 29 July 2024, at 09:00 pm.

    Produced by BBC Studios natural history unit, ‘Planet Earth III’ reflects the set of challenges that wildlife faces in the modern, crowded world. The show is making a comeback two decades after the original Planet Earth series first aired. It highlights some of the fantastic locations of India that include the teak forests where whistling wild dogs hunt prey three times their size and a village with venomous cobra co-existing with humans, leading to a change in their behaviour.

    The final episode sheds light on the ‘heroes’ across the globe who put their lives on the line to protect the wildlife and the critically important ecosystems of our planet.

    For the show’s premiere, Sony BBC Earth has launched a campaign titled ‘WilderThanYourImagination’. It focuses on mesmerising viewers with Earth’s unseen wonders, taking them to a world of incredible stories, beyond their imagination. Ahead of the premiere, the channel conducted screenings at the Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai science centers that saw over 1400+ students enjoying the content and learning from it.

    Sony Pictures Networks India chief marketing officer & business head – English cluster & Sony AATH, Tushar Shah said, “At Sony BBC Earth, we are dedicated to providing viewers with high-quality programming that ignites curiosity and fosters a deep connection with the natural world. Planet Earth III delivers on this commitment and perfectly embodies the brand promise. Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, this remarkable series is an immersive adventure into the heart of the wild. It showcases extraordinary tales of resilience, adaptation, and hope in the natural world.”

    Planet Earth III executive producer Mike Gunton said, “Planet Earth III is about the resilience and adaptability of nature and the remarkable animals changing their lives to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world dominated by us. This is the most ambitious Planet Earth series ever made, and we spent 1904 days filming it. We hold great responsibility as filmmakers to spark deep passion for our natural world, and we are excited for Indian audiences to have the chance to watch this fantastic series.”

  • Viacom18 takes DesiPlayTV to Europe and the UK

    Viacom18 takes DesiPlayTV to Europe and the UK

    Mumbai: IndiaCast Media – part of the Viacom18 group – is playing a big hand in Europe. The syndication and distribution firm has announced the launch of Viacom18’s leading Hindi FAST channel, DesiPlay TV, on Pluto TV in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and Nordic countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The channel is being made available in Hindi with English subtitles to enable audiences to enjoy the content.

    Following the channel’s success in Canada, where it has garnered popularity among the South Asian diaspora and local Canadians, DesiPlay TV is set to entertain British and  European audiences with its rich tapestry of Indian entertainment while being the first Hindi FAST channel to be present across Pluto TV’s network in Canada, UK, Ireland and Europe. In addition to Pluto TV, DesiPlay TV is now available on some of the leading networks across the global including Sling, Plex, Shahid, MyCo, and YuppTV.

    DesiPlay TV offers a curated selection of the most beloved and iconic Hindi television shows and Bollywood blockbusters. Viewers can indulge in the drama-packed world of popular and highly rated shows like Uttaran, Na Aana Is Des Laado, Dev, Tu Aashiqui, and Sanskaar: Dharohar Apnon Ki. The channel also boasts an impressive library of Hindi cinema blockbusters featuring legendary stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, and many more. To cater to a wider audience, DesiPlay TV also presents a diverse range of South Indian films dubbed in Hindi.

    “We are excited to bring DesiPlay TV to Pluto TV’s viewers in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and Nordic countries,” said IndiaCast Media executive vice-president & head of international business Govind Shahi. “The strong performance of the channel in Canada, US and Middle East demonstrates the immense appetite for Indian content among the global audiences that inherently appreciate and enjoy Indian content. In our consistent efforts to take good content to our audiences, we have seen considerable success with Desi Play TV and in that our collaboration with Pluto has been very instrumental. With this launch, we are opening up a new avenue for audiences and hoping to entertain and associate with global audiences and not only South Asians. This is truly in line with our intent of taking India to the world.”