ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Reliance Communications selects Aicent MMS gateway

    Reliance Communications selects Aicent MMS gateway

    MUMBAI: Reliance Communications has selected Aicent MMS Gateway, developed by Aicent Inc. – the California-headquartered provider of mobile data network services and solutions – to offer domestic and international Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to its mobile subscribers.

    Reliance has launched its MMS service which offers a vibrant and personalised messaging experience to its subscribers. By utilising the Aicent MMS gateway service, Reliance mobile subscribers can stay in touch by sharing photos, audio and video messages with their friends and family across India and around the world, informs an official release.

    “Reliance has been at the forefront to introduce innovative applications that have redefined the scope of mobile telephony for our many million customers. We are glad to offer domestic and international MMS services to cater to the fast growing popularity of data and video applications among Reliance Mobile customers. With the launch of this interconnectivity we invite all other operators to integrate and to connect with Reliance’s subscriber base,” says Reliance Communications Application Services president Mahesh Prasad.

    “We are excited to partner with Reliance to add value to their subscribers’ messaging experience in India,” says Aicent president-CEO Lynn Liu. Aicent’s global footprint and flexible, innovative service features enhance user’s experience and operator’s revenue streams. We continue to demonstrate our world-class mobile data expertise established by our data roaming, messaging and other next generation mobile data services.”

  • The Pusan International Film Fest 2006 to screen ‘Krissh’

    The Pusan International Film Fest 2006 to screen ‘Krissh’

    MUMBAI: The Pusan International Film Festival from 12 October to 20 October 2006 in Korea, will screen its first Bollywood movie, Krissh during a program called ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’ on 16 and 19 October 2006.

    The Film Festival has been credited with bringing Asian Filmmakers together. Other programs include ‘New Currents’, ‘Korean Panorama’, ‘World Cinema’, ‘Wide Angle’, ‘Open Cinema’, ‘Critic’s Choice’ and ‘Special Programs in Focus’. The festival seeks to be non-competitive, with the exception of ‘New Currents’ which is a competitive program, states an official release.
    The next section ‘World Cinema’ will screen new works by World renowned Filmmaker, offering a better understanding of the recent trend in world cinema. The ‘Open Cinema’ will feature a collection of new films, combining both the art and mass popularity, along with the Internationally acclaimed works, while ‘Korean Panorama’ will offer a presentation on the latest outstanding Korean films. 

    ‘Korean Retrospective’ on the other hand, is a re-cap on the history of Korean cinema by spotlighting the films on a certain notable director. ‘Wide Angel’ is a section dedicated to showing outstanding shot films, animation, documentary and experimental films presenting different and distinct visions via broader cinematic viewpoints, while ‘Critics Choice’ screens films chosen by five renowned critics in an attempt to discover new film artists.

    The news sections included this year are ‘Midnight Passion’ which introduces 12 films of the latest Cult Films from around the world. There is a special program titled ‘Special on French Movies’ in commemorations of Korea and France’s 120 years of amity. Also, ‘The Remapping of Asian Amateur Cinema’ will show it’s second edition as a continued effort to discover major Asian cineastes who left their mark in their respective countries but were unknown internationally.

  • Jim Perry promoted to Nickelodeon, MTVN Kids & Family Group EVP









    MUMBAI: Jim Perry has been named executive vice president, 360 Brand Sales, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. This announcement was made by Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami and MTV Networks U.S. ad sales president Hank Close.


    In this role, Perry will oversee ad sales for multiple brands across a wide variety of platforms, including Nickelodeon, Noggin, The N, Nicktoons Network, Nick Online, Neopets, the Nickelodeon Magazine Group, and emerging media. Based in New York, Perry will report to Zarghami and Close, informs an official release.



    “In his 15 years at Nickelodeon and MTV Networks, Jim has done an amazing job not only generating new partnerships with clients, but also cultivating a unique relationship between Marketing, Programming and other departments at Nickelodeon Networks to provide our partners with the best 360 degree opportunities to reach kids and families,” Zarghami said.


    “Jim has shown the strategic vision to grow the Nickelodeon services in the kids‘ market, and has also unlocked the Nickelodeon value proposition for adult advertisers,” said Close.


    A 15-year veteran at MTV Networks, Perry joined in 1991 as a sales planner in the advertising sales department. In this capacity, he was exposed to all of MTV Networks cable properties — MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon. In 1992, he was promoted to account executive at Nickelodeon. In 1999, he was promoted to vice president of Nick New Business and in 2002; he was promoted to Senior Vice President, of Nickelodeon Advertising Sales.

  • TV influences Britishers in parenting

    TV influences Britishers in parenting

    MUMBAI: Television parenting programmes are having a powerful influence on parenting techniques in Great Britain today.

    However a proportion of those who view such programmes (37 per cent ) believe that such programmes sensationalise family problems for public entertainment.
    Most parents with children aged under 16 have watched at least one such programme and 83 per cent of these parents said they found a parenting technique that was helpful to them personally. These results are contained in a poll by Ipsos MORI for the National Family and Parenting Institute.

    NFPI CEO Mary MacLeod, is writing to the programme makers asking them to make sure they act responsibly towards those families who take part and urging them to use the influence of their programmes to deliver high quality advice from skilled and knowledgeable professionals.

    The main findings are:
    • Parenting programmes are extremely popular, especially for parents: almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of parents with children aged under 16 have watched at least one parenting programme and 55 per cent of all adults have watched at least one parenting programme
    • Parenting programmes are directly influencing parenting behaviour: more than eight in ten parents (83 per cent) who have watched parenting programmes found a technique from the programmes helpful to them.
    • But parenting programmes are considered to sensationalise family problems for public entertainment by a large minority (37 per cent) of their viewers.

    MacLeod said, “This survey emphasises that television parenting programmes are offering support that parents find applicable to their own lives. Parents seem to be identifying techniques they can use at home and the most popular techniques are those based around rewarding and praising children, which is excellent news.

    “With 72 per cent of parents watching at least one such programme and 83% of those who watched finding at least one technique suggested useful, this is a good opportunity for those who make these programmes to get across the value and benefit of positive parenting techniques.

    “But a significant minority of parents are expressing concerns about these television programmes. 37 per cent felt that they sensationalised family problems for entertainment while 14 per cent worried about the effect they had on the participating children. Producers must look at the potentially detrimental effects of their programmes on participating parents and children, especially as new formats seek out ever more troubled families to take part. For the sake of those who look to them for help and advice, they must offer good quality advice based on up to date research.“

    “This is why I am writing to the producers of these programmes. It is vitally important that the influence that these programmes exert is a positive one and that they do not exploit those who take part. They have a clear responsibility to ensure that they are responsible in screening families, seeking children’s consent, doing follow-up with families involved and using experts who are knowledgeable and skilled.”

  • Mipcom attendance up by 9%

    Mipcom attendance up by 9%

    MUMBAI: The television trade event Mipcom which recently concluded in Cannes, France saw attendance of 15,900 people, about nine per cent more than last year.
    More programme buyers than ever jetted in for the event to take advantage of new media platforms. Reed Midem television director Paul Johnson has been quoted in media reports saying that buyers from China, the Middle East and India, in particular, showed healthy increases.

    There were 519 stands, an eight per cent increase, and 1,643 exhibiting companies, also an 8-percent growth rate. The number of exhibiting countries rose by five per cent, with new participants including Angola, Cambodia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Macedonia and Sudan.

    A report in Worldscreen states that at Mipcom Junior, registered companies were up three per cent to 529, with 53 countries represented. Sellers were up two per cent to 315, but buyers were down two per cent to 460, because of Reed Midem’s new policy of charging a flat nominal fee for all buyers to participate in the kids’ programming event.

    The number of programmes presented rose by 12 percent to 937, and new programmes were up 22 percent to 562. Screenings on site rose by nine per cent to 42,848. The most screened program at Mipcom Junior was Aardman Animation’s Shaun the Sheep.

    A report put out by Prensario International states that at Mipcom there were attempts to push new ventures in all the regions, in addition to ancillary businesses such as home video, merchandising, mobile telephony and digital platforms. It is noticeable how these last two items are growing, from any given show to the next one. The technology is ready, but the business models are not yet fully developed. Digital transportation of content and High Definition are two more specialties that are gaining force; those who have HD content available were able to close deals that are out of reach for those who don’t. Regarding genres, there was a worldwide search for family and kid product, both live action and animated; programming about paranormal incidents is also intensely sought. At this Mipcom, Asia joined this trend with determination, states the report.

    Markets that were traditionally closed are now opening its doors. This adds investment in structures and alliances that allow farther reach. An example: the deal signed at the show by Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Venevision International (covering the US Hispanic market and Latin America) by which each ally will promote its partner’s product in its region.

    Everybody wants Latin content – The report notes that in this emerging landscape, the demand for Latin product is growing. Telenovelas are be the new trend, both in the US based networks and the largest Western Europe networks; this effect is contagious to other territories, even those where the genre was mature, giving it a new life. And the most important thing: both local production and finished product are creating synergy, against what was initially expected to happen. This is key to keeping the Latin industry in upbeat mood.

    That’s why the Mipcom organisation produced, once again, the Telenovela Screenings, on the Saturday and Sunday prior to the official opening of the show. For the first time the genre became the subject of two of the billboards at the Palais des Festivals entrance, taken by Dori Media Distribution. The screening had positive results.

    60 per cent more companies registered, 35 per cent more buyers attended and nine per cent more participating nations. 92 programmes were made available and 2,100 screenings were requested. On an average, the volume grew by 30 per cent compared to 2005. This is a significant increase, although the number of net participants remains focalized: 133 buyers vs. 99 last year.

    RCTV International sales head Jose Escalante, stressed that they helped to have more meetings during Mipcom instead of reducing their number, since buyers requested more information. Tepuy’s Accessory to Love was the most requested novela.

    The production of Latin formats has exploded -from MipTV to this Mipcom- in Romania, Russia and Portugal; each of these territories has currently five or six projects under development. This, on top of what is being seen in Germany, Spain, France and Italy. Televisa -both in entertainment and novelas-, Telefé, TV Azteca, Dori Media, RCN and Tepuy/TVN Chile appear as leaders of this trend; and, there are independent first moves, such as Argentine producer CTV’s, headed by actor Gabriel Corrado, who produces in Romania, and Chilean Feliú Group, which produces in Russia. In Eastern Europe, Romanian Mediapro Distribution is emerging in acquiring formats and producing.

    At the same time, the report notes that US networks are launching their first telenovelas, with promising results. If they become successful, the market will open fully. As a matter of fact, Fox had acquired at first three telenovelas for MyNewtorkTV, and now has rights to seven of them, predominantly from Colombian Caracol TV. Disney meanwhile is selling to the world its version of RCN’s Ugly Betty. Telenovelas are reaching the 18-34 target, which encourages investment.

  • I&B ministry to run an awareness campaign ahead of CAS rollout

    I&B ministry to run an awareness campaign ahead of CAS rollout

    NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today assured fellow parliamentarians that the roadmap for CAS has been smoothened.

    Apprising members of the Consultative Committee attached to his ministry on CAS and its effect on consumers, Dasmunsi enumerated the steps taken to put in place the mechanism.

    According to the minister, regulatory framework related to tariff, transmission and other issues have been finalized and notified by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for smooth and successful roll out of the CAS by the stipulated date of 31 December 2006.

    The committee was informed that the ministry would hold a month long campaign before the enforcement of CAS for enhancing consumer awareness.

    Multi Service Operators and cable operators had to finalize their rate structure by 10 October, 2006 and inter-connect agreements have to be in place by 15 October, the minister informed the parliamentary panel.

    The members of the panel were unanimous in suggesting that consumer interest should be “protected at all cost”.

    Giving details of the measures already taken by TRAI and the regulatory framework for the purpose, the members were assured by Dasmunsi of all possible steps to ensure that consumers do not suffer in any way.

    Those who attended the meeting included Kirip Chaliha, S. Mallikarjunaiah, Hannan Mollah, Mahendra Prasad Nishad, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Ramdas Athawale, Vijay J. Darda, Ajay Maroo, Shatrughan Sinha, Dara Singh, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, Ms Usha Verma, Ms Nirmala Deshpande and senior officials from the I&B ministry and Trai.

  • Digital arena is driving global music sales

    Digital arena is driving global music sales

    MUMBAI: Sales of digital music in the first half of this year rose by 106 per cent to $945 million when compared with the first six months of last year.

    Globally, digital sales now account for 11 per cent of the total recorded music market worldwide, up from 5.5 per cent in December 2005.

    According to a report put out by the Ifpi the US is still leading the digital revolution, with 18 per cent of recorded music sales now being made through digital channels. Digital music sales in the US increased by 84 per cent to US$ 513 million in the first six months of 2006.

    Digital music also accounts for a significant part of the overall market in South Korea (51 per cent), Japan (11 per cent), Italy (9 per cent) and the UK (8 per cent).

    The explosion in digital music services, spurred by consumer demand and a widening array of delivery channels, has seen online and mobile music sales grow from $134 million in the first half of 2004 to $945 million in the first half of 2006.

    In Japan, Italy and Spain mobile dominates the digital market, accounting for 85 per cent, 76 per cent and 78 per cent of the overall sales respectively. Online downloading is more prominent in markets such as the UK, Germany and the US, where online sales account for 70 per cent, 69 per cent and 64 per cent of digital sales respectively.

    Physical music sales declined in the first half period, down by 10 per cent worldwide. This led to total music sales falling by four per cent in the period to $8.4 billion in trade values ($13.7 billion in retail values). Piracy and competition for consumer spending contributed to the first half fall.

    There was growth in some markets, such as Japan (12 per cent), South Korea (5 per cent) and Australia (6 per cent), counter-balanced by declines in Germany (-4 per cent), the US (-7 per cent) and France (-9 per cent).

    Ifpi promotes the interests of the international recording industry worldwide. Its membership comprises over 1400 major and independent companies in more than 70 countries. It also has affiliated industry national groups in 48 countries. Ifpi’s mission is to fight music piracy; promote fair market access and good copyright laws; help develop the legal conditions and the technologies for the recording industry to prosper in the digital era; and to promote the value of music.

  • Cartoon Network, Graphic India, POW! Entertainment get together for Chakra: The Invincible

    Cartoon Network, Graphic India, POW! Entertainment get together for Chakra: The Invincible

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network, Graphic India and POW! Entertainment have announced a partnership that will bring to life Stan Lee’s first ever Indian superhero. The legendary writer is the co-creator of the world’s most popular superheroes including Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Hulk, The Avengers, and many others. The movie, entitled Chakra: The Invincible, will premiere on Cartoon Network on Saturday, 30 November at 12pm.

     

    Talking about his first ever Indian superhero Stan Lee said, “I am incredibly excited to be collaborating with my friends at Graphic India as we launch this great new, thrill-a-minute superhero saga named, Chakra: The Invincible, on Cartoon Network.”

     

    Brimming with enthusiasm he added, “The incredible story of Chakra, one of my latest and most exciting superhero creations, promises to captivate audiences in India and around the world with his adventures.”

     

    Chakra: The Invincible tells the story of Raju Rai, a young Indian boy living in Mumbai. Raju and his mentor, the scientist Dr. Singh, develop a technology suit that activates the mystical chakras of the body. When Raju dons the suit, he discovers superpowers and vows to use his newfound abilities to protect and serve. Using his amazing powers, Chakra must save the city and the world from super villains!

     

    Commenting on this partnership, Turner International senior director & network head – kids, south Asia Krishna Desai said, “We are thrilled to announce this partnership and to have the pleasure of working with one of the world’s greatest legends – and my favourite real-life superhero, Stan Lee. Chakra: The Invincible is a part of Turner’s continuing efforts to entertain kids and families across India with new and exciting characters and stories. We are certain that Chakra will be added to the long list of world renowned characters from both Stan Lee and Cartoon Network.”

     

    “What a great opportunity to expand Stan’s global brand by introducing Chakra as our first Indian superhero, and who better to partner with than Sharad Devarajan and Graphic India, as well as Cartoon Network,” said POW! Entertainment CEO/president Gill Champion.

     

    “The opportunity to work with Stan Lee to create Chakra: The Invincible is the culmination of a lifelong dream, made that much more rewarding by partnering with the amazing team at Cartoon Network,” added Graphic’s co-founder & CEO, Sharad Devarajan, who is also the director and executive producer of the animated film.

     

    “Stan Lee is one of the most prolific storytellers in the world, and in the same way his previous characters are known by nearly every man, woman and child on the planet, we believe Chakra will captivate audiences from Boston to Beijing to Bangalore!”

     

    Graphic India SVP creative Jeevan J. Kang has overseen the visual development and also created the character designs and art for the project working closely with Lee and Devarajan to bring Chakra’s story to life.

     

    In addition to the partnership with Cartoon Network, Graphic India recently announced that Chakra: The Invincible has also been selected as part of a group of content partners to soon be featured on Angry Birds creator, Rovio Entertainment’s new ToonsTV platform, reaching audiences around the world.

     

    Beyond animation, Graphic India will also be launching the character in a series of digital and print comic books and graphic novels as well as through toys and merchandise.

  • THQ launches ‘Scooby-Doo! Who’s Watching Who?’ video game in US













    MUMBAI: THQ Inc., worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software, has announced that Scooby-Doo! Who‘s Watching Who?, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, has shipped to retailers throughout North America for the first time on the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, and is also available on the Nintendo DS.


    Inspired by the classic Scooby-Doo cartoon, the game is rated “E” for everyone and is now available at the retail price of $19.99.



    “Scooby-Doo! Who‘s Watching Who? captures the charm of one of the most popular characters of several generations and features authentic voiceover work from the Scooby-Doo voice actors,” said THQ director of global brand management John Ardell.


    “We are excited to release this new Scooby-Doo adventure on today‘s most advanced handheld systems, allowing fans of all ages to interact with their favorite characters and drive the Mystery Machine for the very first time

  • Star Plus seeks its break; Zee improves: Hindi GEC Q3 Study

    The Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) space is back in the spotlight. Strategies, counter strategies, experiments and innovations enchant the market, though audiences remain cautious while deciding their staple programming diet.

    The ongoing churn owes a lot to the manner in which Subhash Chandra‘s Zee TV made its comeback to the reckoning. Because, this turnaround has forced the channel‘s rivals (both leader Star Plus and trailing number three Sony Entertainment) to re-think their strategies and hence, we have a real humdinger of a ratings battle going on these days. This exciting range of happenings has inspired Indiantelevision.com to examine the GEC arena a bit more closely, as it completes its 2006 calendar year‘s third quarter.

    Relative channel share- All Day, CS4+ HSM

    A first look at the data gives an obvious picture. Star Plus leads the tally, followed by Zee TV, Sony, Star One, Sahara One and Sab TV (Average market share data, All Day, CS4+ HSM, 1 July to 30 September, Tam).

    Star Plus, which maintained an above 50 per cent average when we did an April 2006 (All Day Part) analysis, has recorded an average market share of 46.1 per cent for the three month period (Average market share data, All Day, CS4+ 1 July to 30 September, Tam).

    Though the channel made its best efforts to improve its position through various new launches during this period, the market share score missed the 50 per cent mark in this period. In September, it even dropped below the 45 per cent mark for the first time since the KBC phenomenon rewrote Indian television history. From 45.9 per cent of July, the channel improved its position considerably to 47.8 per cent in the month of August. However, in September, the share recorded a slight drop at 44.9 per cent.

    However, Star One has recorded an improvement during this period, as compared to its April 2006 share. The channel, which struggled during the first half of the year due to affairs such as cable blackout in certain parts of the country, has now recorded an average channel share of 6.4 per cent, while the April score stood at 5.38 per cent. The channel is now banking on properties such as Nach Baliye 2, Paraaya Dhan and Kadvee Khatti Meethi to better its position by the end of 2007.

    “We have launched about three to four shows during this period including Nach Baliye 2, Saathi Re & Paraaya Dhan (Star One) and Antariksh, Karam Apnaa Apnaa and Prithviraj Chauhan (Star Plus) and the effort is to take on any kind of competition in any time band. Star Plus is not going to sit pretty on its relatively strong position. Now, the effort will be to constantly improve the performance. There will be no let off from our side on this front”, says Star India EVP content Deepak Segal.

    During this three month period, the number two channel Zee TV has actually improved its position – from an average market share of 19 per cent in April 2006 to an average of 22.9 per cent for the July to September period, according to Tam. The score reads like this: July 23.4 per cent), August (22.1 per cent) and September (23.3 per cent).

    “The turnaround started with Saath Phere and Kassamh Se and the kind of innovations and experiments we employed in our storylines have really contributed to this good performance. This way, we managed to get the audience flow. We have steadied our soaps. The launch of Betiyann has completed our soap range for the year and now the focus is on various other genres. Hence, we will have now programmes such as the mythology Raavan and reality show Cinestars coming up. So, the strategy will revolve around non-soap genres for the next phase,” says Zee TV programming head Ashwini Yardi.

    Sony‘s position hasn‘t undergone any drastic changes as the channel recorded an average market share of 12.5 per cent for the three month period as compared to its April 2006 score of 12.36 per cent.

    Though flagship channel Sony may be still struggling, but sister channel Sab has been making a slow and steady improvement, on the other hand. The channel which scored an average channel share of 3.04 per cent for April in the All Day Part has improved the score significantly to 4.9 per cent for the June to September period.

    Sahara One, which received an April ‘windfall‘ in terms of cricket telecast rights and scored an average market share of 10 per cent during that period, has now gone down in the chart. The channel has scored an average market share of 5.3 per cent for the July to September period in All Day Part.

    Rating Score Card – Prime Time

    Kyunki Saas Bhi… continues to be Star Plus‘ channel driver programme. The long running soap of Hindi television recorded its best rating of 14.17 TVR on 31 July, 14.31 TVR on 29 August and 13 TVR on 4 September. The channel has a fixed line up of shows occupying all the top four positions including Kyunki… and the shows are Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kasauti Zindagi Kay and Kahiin To Hoga. While in July, the fourth and fifth positions were occupied by Baa Bahoo Aur Baby and Kkavyanjali respectively, in August the positons went to special shows Nach Baliye 2 Muh Dekhai and Shaadi Ke Rang Bhabhi Ke. In September, Prithviraj Chauhan (best TVR 7.38) and Karam Apnaa Apnaa (best: 7.12 TVR) made it to the reckoning.

    Zee TV has three different soaps recording the channel‘s best ratings in the prime time in these three months. In July 2006, Saath Phere recorded the highest 7.32 TVR, while in August it was the Balaji Telefilms soap Kasamh Se (6.16 TVR). The top slot for the month of September escaped both the shows and went to the finals of Saregamapa Lil Champs (6.81 TVR).

    Zee TV‘s good show in the rating chart has a lot to do with the impressive opening week rating its new launches record these days. For example, Banoo Main Teri Dulhann recorded its best launch-month (august) rating of 3.5. TVR. And in September, Dulhann further consolidated its position with a best of the month rating of 4.37 TVR. Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann‘s best of the month (September launch) rating stands at 4.99 TVR.

    For Sony, CID continues to be the channel driver with an average rating of 3.5 TVR for the three month period, according to Tam (HSM CS4+). In September, newly launched reality dance show Jhalakk Dikhla Ja has made its appearance in the top 10 chart for Sony. The show has filled the second slot in Sony‘s line up with its best rating of 2.95 TVR.

    Betiyann Vs Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki + Naach Baliye 2

    The month of September also witnessed an interesting battle between Zee TV and Star Plus in the coveted 10 pm slot. The story was about how Zee TV unpacked its biggest soap launch of the year — Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann and positioned it against Star Plus‘ unchallenged 10 pm property Kahaani…

    Giving the development to a total new twist was Star One‘s strategy to launch Naach Baliye 2 on the same day that Zee scheduled Betiyann‘s launch – on 25 September. Though Naach Baliye was slotted in the 8 pm post and it looked the launch had nothing to do with Zee‘s 10 pm introduction of Betiyann, Star had different plans in mind. Star One telecast a 2.30 hours special episode of Naach Baliye 2 on 25 September in order to let the celeb dance show‘s launch clash with the launch episode of Betiyann. Then on the other side, Star Plus had a spiced up episode of Kahaani…to counter the Zee TV soap.

    Now, let‘s see how all these three programmes finally delivered as per Tam ratings:

    The Star ploy of countering Betiyann with Naach Baliye 2 special episode worked well for the channel. Betiyann‘s launch ratings stood at 2.58 TVR, while Nach Baliye 2 opening episode recorded a rating of 4.86 TVR (CS4+ HSM). However, it looks like the ploy had backfired in Kahaani…‘s case as the soap could gather only 6.14 TVR for the particular day. (Kahaani… normally records a rating of about 8 TVR on an average).

    However, Betiyann recovered from the initial blow quickly and came up with an improved performance during the rest of the week: 3.24 (26 Sept), 4.18 (27 Sept) and 4.99 TVR (28 Sept). And the Betiyann figures also reveal Zee‘s success in giving a jolt to Kahaani… in the initial week itself. The Star Plus soap had recorded an average rating of 8.75 TVR in week 38 (17 Sept to 23 Sept). And in the week that Betiyann got launched, Kahaani..‘s average rating has slipped to 7.25 TVR, as per Tam.

    Post Script:

    So what is waiting the GEC market in coming months? One genre that is expected to make its presence felt during this period is Reality. Two big ticket reality shows, Sony‘s Bigg Brother and Zee TV‘s Cinestars, will be unveiled in November. Star One has just kicked off its Naach Baliye 2 and the show has competition from Sony‘s celeb dance show Jhalak Dikhla Ja. So the space will have not less than four reality shows engaged in an eyeball war with each other in this quarter.

    Strategy-wise, as Yardi has revealed, Zee TV‘s focus will be now on non-soap programmes such as Raavan and Cinestars. Star Plus is looking at the kids genre in a big way and has even accommodated a kids-oriented superhuman show Antariksh in its weekday 8 pm prime time band. The channel has lined up another kids show Lucky for the same slot on Saturdays. As Segal puts it, “We are looking to develop kids also as a key viewer segment of ours. Star has always been popular for its quality kids shows.” Sahara One‘s October-November plans will mainly revolve around the upcoming soap Solhah Singaar‘.

    As the market leader Star Plus is seeking a good break to go back to its old good days of undisputed leadership and Zee TV uncorking fresh concepts to win back its lost glory, the Hindi GEC space is going through one of its best times. Then we have international players such as BBC and Viacom (reportedly in talks with Sahara One for a stake in the channel) and then our own NDTV gearing up their general entertainment channel plans for the Hindi market.

    So the big question remains: Will all these high profile suitors be able to come up with path breaking concepts and innovative positioning strategies to help the market really expand further?