ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Pitch perfect! NIIF clinches Alea Cup in a thrilling corporate showdown

    Pitch perfect! NIIF clinches Alea Cup in a thrilling corporate showdown

    MUMBAI: It was wickets over wallets and boundaries over balance sheets as Mumbai’s financial elite swapped suits for cricket whites at the third edition of the Alea Cup, hosted at the Western Railway Sports Ground. Sponsored by Alea Consulting and held under the umbrella of Saran Sports’ iconic CC7 tournament, the clash brought together six powerhouse teams from the financial world including heavyweights like NIIF, Kotak Investment, CPP Investments, and Apollo Asset Management.

    And what a finish it was. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a nail-biting final against Investec Capital, adding another feather to its sporting cap after past glory in previous editions. The Alea Cup, which has seen participation from the likes of KKR, Brookfield, JM Financial Private Equity, and Xponentia Capital, has fast become a marquee event for those who crunch numbers by day and smash sixes by dusk.

    The tournament is part of the Saran Sports CC7 series, recognised by the Limca Book of Records as the world’s longest-running corporate cricket event. Since 1997, over 1,500 corporate teams have padded up for what is arguably India’s most spirited fusion of boardroom ambition and backyard banter.

    Alea Consulting founder Deepak Bhawnani said, “Alea Cup offers working professionals a chance to engage in a sport they enjoy, providing personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement while promoting physical fitness and mental well-being. Our objective is to instil values such as teamwork and sportsmanship in the players. It also provides opportunities to connect with colleagues and professionals from other companies, which can be beneficial for career growth and business opportunities.”

    Far from a mere weekend escape, the Alea Cup has come to symbolise the camaraderie, competitiveness, and community that cricket inspires across all walks of life. It honours not only the nation’s love for the sport but also the human side of the finance industry where handshakes can be as important as half-centuries, and shared memories outlast match scores.

    With each edition, the tournament continues to hit it out of the park proving once again that whether on the field or in finance, strategy, stamina, and synergy remain a winning combo.

  • Licence to thrill as Hoopr smash reshapes India’s music licensing game

    Licence to thrill as Hoopr smash reshapes India’s music licensing game

    MUMBAI: India’s content creators have been grooving without a licence until now. In a game-changing move for the booming creator economy, Hoopr has launched Hoopr Smash, a slick, self-serve music licensing platform that finally lets brands, agencies, and creators use hindi and regional tracks legally and affordably without hitting a sour note.

    This digital-first marketplace is shaking up the copyright jungle by giving creators instant access to music from one of the most iconic catalogues in Indian cinema: YRF Music, with over 1,000 blockbuster tracks. It also ropes in 17 regional labels and over 380 artists, from A.R. Rahman and Vishal-Sheykhar to Badshah, Bohemia, and Jasleen Royal, offering a library of more than 18,000 licensable tracks and counting.

    With India churning out 80,000 branded content pieces and 550,000 creators posting daily, music is often used with more enthusiasm than legality. As per industry estimates, 87 per cent of music use in content is wilfully violating copyright, bleeding the industry of a jaw-dropping Rs 3,600 crore annually. Hoopr Smash wants to plug that leak and fast.

    The platform works like an e-commerce checkout for beats. Users can license a track in under 15 minutes, choosing from bundles or per-track payments. Content is sorted by use case, mood, and moment, think Diwali jingles or wedding reels plus a live ‘Trending Tracks’ feature keeps brands tuned in to what’s hot. Whether it’s a mangalsutra ad or a monsoon campaign, there’s a song for every storyline.

    Commenting on the launch, Hoopr co-founder & CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar said: “As an artist, I have experienced the challenges of India’s fragmented music licensing ecosystem where even my own songs have been used without permission or payment. While brands want to license music the right way, they often find themselves navigating a complex and inconsistent process while trying to license songs. Licensing Bollywood music in particular has often been complicated, with unclear legal pathways and limited access for most brands. With Hoopr Smash, we are addressing this gap by building a transparent, accessible, and efficient platform that simplifies the legal licensing of popular Bollywood songs for all stakeholders. We envision Hoopr Smash becoming the go-to destination for ethical music licensing, empowering brands to create freely and fearlessly, while ensuring artists and music owners receive the value they truly deserve.”

    Adding to this Hoopr co-founder & CRO Meghna Mittal said “Hoopr Smash is designed to address the long-standing issues of Bollywood music licensing. After extensive research with 160 plus brands and agencies, we understood that there were some major pain points volatile pricing, long negotiations, and decentralized clearance processes. Smash eliminates this by displaying Bollywood music-trending updates in real time, offering intelligent track curation, and instant licensing, allowing brands to access popular tracks faster and stay legally compliant. The site offers affordable pricing and a seamless checkout experience, and ensures that artists and labels are dealt with fairly. This is a giant leap in building an open and sustainable music licensing infrastructure in India.”

    Commenting on this unique partnership Yash Raj Films Pvt. Ltd. vice president of digital & new media Anand Gurnani stated, “Hoopr’s technology presents an exciting opportunity for us to expand our reach to long-tail consumers and enhance the accessibility of our music catalogue. This partnership not only provides brands with seamless access to our extensive music catalogue but also streamlines the licensing process, ensuring efficient and compliant usage. We are confident that this collaboration will open up exciting opportunities for responsible brand engagement across short-form formats while helping us connect with wider audiences.”                  

    In a content landscape bursting with reels, remixes, and reaction videos, Hoopr Smash lands as a much-needed remix to India’s outdated music licensing scene. More than a tech tool, it’s a cultural clean-up. By marrying ease, legality, and fairness, Hoopr Smash might just be the soundtrack to a more ethical, efficient content future.

  • Golden Hour! ET Now Swadesh polishes investment wisdom with ‘Gold Mahakumbh’

    Golden Hour! ET Now Swadesh polishes investment wisdom with ‘Gold Mahakumbh’

    MUMBAI: It’s not just about buying bling this Akshaya Tritiya, it’s about investing smartly in it! ET Now Swadesh is set to unwrap a glittering feast of insights with its special broadcast ‘Gold Mahakumbh’ on 29 April 2025, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, aiming to make gold and silver investments shine a little brighter for Indian households.

    Spearheaded by ET Now and ET Now Swadesh editor-in-chief Nikunj Dalmia, the special programming promises to turn viewers into savvy investors with a line-up of India’s sharpest financial minds, including Vishwamohan Kumar and Kavita Thapliyal as anchors.

    The glittering line-up includes key segments such as Golden Call (3:30 pm – 4:00 pm), HDFC AMC MD & CEO Navneet Munot, will break down the ABCs of gold investing covering ETFs, mutual funds, liquidity, taxation, and how to ride the gold wave for long-term returns. In a volatile market, this primer could be worth its weight in, well, gold.

    Sone Mein Ab Laakh Take Ki Baat (4:00 pm – 4:30 pm), Industry heavyweights like Chirag Sheth, Amit Goel, Ajay Kedia, Kunal Shah, Kishore Narne, and Nitin Kedia will polish viewers’ understanding of gold pricing, future forecasts, and what domestic and global factors could add or shave off a few carats from their investments.

    Golden Shopping (4:30 pm – 5:00 pm), Thinking of buying jewellery? Saiyam Mehra, Ashish Pethe, Rajesh Rokde, and Chetan Thadeshwar will navigate viewers through the dazzling (and often daunting) world of hallmarking (HUID), smart purchasing tips, and consumer rights when buying gold ornaments.

    Sunehra Nivesh (5:00 pm – 5:30 pm), Digital gold or a shiny necklace? Physical coins or a sleek ETF? Experts like Sachin Jain and Vikram Dhawan will help demystify gold investment vehicles and arm investors with knowledge about returns, liquidity, and risks.

    Jewellery Kaarobaar Mein Chunautiyaan (5:30 pm – 6:00 pm), From metal loans to risk management, Manoj Jha, Sahil Mehra, and Nitin Kedia will spotlight the behind-the-scenes challenges faced by the jewellery trade and what it means for everyday buyers.

    Silver Shopping (6:00 pm – 6:30 pm), Because silver isn’t just second-best! Rahul Mehta, Vikram Dhawan, and Ajay Kedia will map emerging opportunities in silver, navigating price volatility, sourcing, and what savvy investors should keep an eye on.

    With India’s emotional and financial bond with gold showing no signs of losing its lustre, Gold Mahakumbh comes at the perfect time, blending festive sentiment with sharp market strategy. ET Now Swadesh, true to its mission of bolstering financial literacy, is ensuring that this Akshaya Tritiya, viewers don’t just buy gold, they invest wisely in it.

    It’s time to sparkle smarter!

  • Network18 knocks out Times Internet to seize undisputed digital news crown

    Network18 knocks out Times Internet to seize undisputed digital news crown

    MUMBAI: Network18 has steamrolled its competition. According to the March 2025 ComScore rankings, the media giant decisively surpassed Times Internet, securing pole position across India’s digital news landscape.

    The ComScore MMX Report on total digital population (social+native) revealed that Network18 clocked an eye-watering 315 million unique visitors (UVs)—a towering 55 per cent lead over Times Internet’s 202 million UVs.

    The message is clear: Network18 reigns supreme.

    News18.com delivered a commanding performance too, registering 251 million UVs and eclipsing The Times of India’s 183 million UVs, cementing its spot as India’s most consumed digital news brand.

    On social media, Network18’s dominance grew even starker. As per the ComScore Media Metrix Social report, it achieved 54 per cent penetration within India’s 389 million social media population, boasting twice the reach of its closest rival, TV9 Network.

    Even stripping out social media traffic, Network18 led from the front. In the News and Information category, the group recorded 183.2 million UVs against Times Internet’s 182.3 million, maintaining its lead purely through news consumption strength.

    Network18’s Indian language news sites also flexed their muscles, posting 182 million UVs and underlining its unmatched regional reach.

    Beyond digital, Network18’s television empire continues to dominate. CNN-News18 has held the number one English news slot without interruption for three consecutive years, while News18 India has been the most watched Hindi news channel across time bands for two years running.

    This comprehensive leadership across digital, social, and television platforms confirms Network18’s standing as the most influential, far-reaching, and trusted news network in the country.

  • LiveU Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire the Business and Technology of Actus Digital, Enhancing Video Monitoring and Analytics, and Deepening AI Capabilities

    LiveU Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire the Business and Technology of Actus Digital, Enhancing Video Monitoring and Analytics, and Deepening AI Capabilities

    Hackensack, NJ:  LiveU, the global leader in live IP-video contribution, production and distribution solutions, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Actus Digital’s business and technology, significantly enhancing its recording, monitoring and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and accelerating its mission to help customers improve operational effectiveness and create more value from video.

    Actus Digital, renowned for its intelligent monitoring and compliance platforms, used by premier broadcasters and media agencies worldwide, brings powerful content analysis, Quality of Experience (QoE) monitoring solutions, and advanced AI enabled tools that will complement the LiveU EcoSystem, delivering workflow simplicity and operational efficiency. The LiveU EcoSystem is a set of innovative IP-video solutions, that add efficiency and shorten workflows across the entire video production chain, including multi-cam 5G contribution encoders and cloud-based ingest, production and IP-video distribution solutions, making the two solution portfolios highly synergistic.

    “We are delighted to be welcomingActus Digital to LiveU,” said Samuel Wasserman, CEO and Co-founder of LiveU. “Their exceptional, market-leading monitoring platform and AI expertise, combined with our shared commitment to reliability, quality, and customer service will significantly strengthen our entire offering in line with our overall strategy.”

    “The LiveU EcoSystem is IP-Positive, meaning it accepts all the major video protocols for maximum interoperability and ease of use for our customers. With Actus Digital, we can now give our customers the valuable ability to monitor and gain insights from all these different feeds in a single solution, so that they can always be sure of their LiveU experience,” he continued.

    Sima Levy, President and Founder of Actus Digital, added: “Joining LiveU provides our customers with easy access to a comprehensive, high-reliability IP-video EcoSystem, backed by world-class support. Combining the LiveU EcoSystem with the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform delivers powerful new capabilities to our customers across radio, TV, OTT and the internet. In fact, more and more of our customers have asked for integration with LiveU and we’re excited to be able to combine our resources and expertise to serve them better.”

    This latest strategic acquisition by LiveU adds a peerless intelligent monitoring and compliance logging platform with advanced AI tools to the LiveU product portfolio, enhancing the ability of content creators and storytellers everywhere to generate more value from their video.

    About LiveU

    LiveU offers a set of high-quality IP-video solutions for any live production – the LiveU EcoSystem. Built on its open, adaptable platform, the LiveU EcoSystem adds efficiency and shortens workflows across the entire video production chain, from contribution and production to distribution. Through innovative story-centric workflows, we help customers share their stories with a global audience in the most dynamic and engaging way. At the core of our EcoSystem lies LRT™ (LiveU Reliable Transport), LiveU’s pioneering protocol for IP bonding and wireless connectivity, ensuring rock-solid resiliency and low latency from any location. Our rich portfolio ranges from our portable multi-cam/compact 5G encoders for live transmission to next-gen cloud ingest, digital production and global distribution solutions. Customers can go live from anywhere with our advanced, network-agnostic connectivity solutions – combining cellular (including private 5G), fiber and satellite. With over 5,000 customers in 150 countries and world-class customer support, LiveU’s technology is the solution of choice for global broadcasters, sports, public safety and other organizations. LiveU is a multi-award winner, including Frost & Sullivan for global product leadership and Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards. LiveU is an Anglo-American company, headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA. For more information, please visit www.liveu.tv, or follow us on X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn or Instagram.

    About Actus Digital

    Since 2005, Actus Digital has set the standard for intelligent media monitoring and compliance logging, trusted by broadcasters, media regulators, public sector organizations, and governments worldwide. With over 1,300 installations, Actus delivers a next-generation browser-based platform, built on its industry-leading QA Compliance Logger and enhanced with advanced solutions like Actus MV (interactive multiviewer), Actus AI Media Insight (AI-powered content analysis), Clip Factory Pro (content repurposing), OTT StreamWatch (OTT/FAST monitoring), and Actus RVM (remote post-STB monitoring). Each product can stand alone or be fully integrated into one unified, powerful platform — maximizing innovation, flexibility, and operational efficiency.
    Actus supports all broadcast video and streaming protocols, including ATSC 3.0, SMPTE 2110, and is available as a turnkey appliance, software/VM-based system, or SaaS. With global offices and 24/7 support, Actus Digital is committed to innovation, service excellence, and customer satisfaction.
    For more details, please visit actusdigital.com.

  • Gaurav Sawant steps up to prime time, anchors India First on India Today TV at 8 pm

    Gaurav Sawant steps up to prime time, anchors India First on India Today TV at 8 pm

    MUMBAI: India Today TV is sharpening its prime-time edge. Starting 28 April 2025, Gaurav Sawant, one of Indian journalism’s most battle-tested voices, will anchor India First at 8 pm, replacing Newstrack in the coveted slot.

    Known for his fearless field reporting, Sawant has covered India’s defining moments, from the Kargil War and Kandahar hijack to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Uri, Pulwama, Nagrota, and the India-China Galwan standoff. His journalism has taken him deep into conflict zones across Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Ukraine, and Israel, not to mention terror attacks in London and Bangalore.

    Sawant’s frontline credentials are unmatched. He earned Para Wings from the Indian Navy after completing five para jumps, including an assisted free fall from a Sea King helicopter at INS Dega-a rare honour for a civilian journalist—and has completed eight para jumps in total.

    His commitment to telling India’s stories runs deep. As the author of ‘Dateline Kargil: A Correspondent’s Nine-Week Account’ from the Battlefront, and the creator of the Veergatha series on Param Vir Chakra awardees for schoolchildren, Sawant has consistently placed service above self, even refusing government remuneration for projects honouring India’s bravest.

    “India Today’s vibrant and democratic newsroom has always built its own leaders, training, trusting, and empowering talent ready to take charge,” the network said in its announcement.

    Now as managing editor, Sawant brings a clarity of purpose and credibility to India First, promising reportage rooted in fact over frills—a reflection of the same values that have defined his storied career.

  • Greenply teams up with Lucknow Super Giants for a witty T20 season swing

    Greenply teams up with Lucknow Super Giants for a witty T20 season swing

    MUMBAI: This T20 season, Greenply Industries has padded up with Lucknow Super Giants to showcase what true resilience looks like-on the pitch and inside your home. The plywood major launched a tongue-in-cheek campaign that ties the unpredictable drama of cricket to the everyday strength needed from quality plywood.

    Conceived by Tonic Worldwide, the campaign unfolds through three witty films featuring LSG players, each highlighting Greenply’s key product strengths: high durability, water resistance, and fire safety. From spilled drinks to mini fires during match-time celebrations, Greenply promises to stay as unfazed as a cool-headed batsman under pressure.

    “With cricket being such an integral part of Indian homes, we wanted to tap into that shared excitement and show how Greenply products consistently deliver on performance. Built on a legacy of quality, our products stand true to the trust they’ve earned. ‘Har Zarurat ka Reply’ is more than a tagline — it’s our promise of reliability where it counts the most, whether it’s on the field or in your home,” said Greenply Industries Ltd VP marketing Yatnesh Pandey.

    Tonic Worldwide senior creative director Josna Joseph added, “The Indian cricket fans are an important customer base for almost every brand. To break the clutter, it is important to connect with them emotionally. Players or plywood, it’s talent and performance that ultimately creates a loyal fanbase and customer.”

    The films will be heavily promoted during the ongoing T20 season across CTV and social media. Fans can also interact via a Whatsapp chatbot to seek expert advice or win T20 match tickets.

    Catch the campaign films here:

  • TAM Sports: IPL 18 ad frenzy – brands swing for the fences as ad volumes hit record highs

    TAM Sports: IPL 18 ad frenzy – brands swing for the fences as ad volumes hit record highs

    MUMBAI; The wickets may be tumbling on the pitch, but in the advertising arena, it’s pure carnage — with brands smashing sixes every over. Fresh data from TAM Sports shows that ad volumes for IPL 18 (first 40 matches) have surged past last year’s figures, underlining one unchanging truth: nothing unites — or excites — Indian marketers like cricket.

    The numbers tell a story of big bets and even bigger ambitions.

    The top five categories — e-commerce gaming, pan masala, aerated soft drinks, digital wallets, and biscuits — have steamrolled the competition, grabbing nearly 60 per cent of the ad pie. In a cricket-mad nation, snack cravings and fantasy sports dreams are, clearly, recession-proof.

    Leading the advertising scoreboard are heavy-hitters like Dream11, Parle Products, Sporta Technologies, KP Pan Foods, and PepsiCo India. Dream11, in particular, seems to be playing Test cricket while others are stuck in a T20 mindset — blanketing screens with a relentless media barrage.

    But it’s not just the usual suspects jostling for screen time.

    IPL 18 has welcomed a new squad of ambitious rookies: online payment apps, solar energy brands, smartwatches, and a fresh wave of wearable tech firms, all eager to cash in on the cricketing carnival. The brand line-up today mirrors a new India — digital-first, experimental, and willing to go big.

    The scale-up is staggering:
    * TV ad volumes during IPL 18 are over three times higher than in the pre-IPL season.
    * New categories have grown by over 25 per cent year-on-year.
    * Connected TV advertising has spiked, with brands now chasing the living room, the bedroom, and even the metro ride home.

    Sports channels are having a summer of dreams, while GECs and movie channels quietly sulk. Every IPL season rewrites the broadcast pecking order — and 2025 is no exception.

    Beyond TV, the smart money is on a multi-screen blitzkrieg. Brands are synchronising 10-second TV spots with mid-match mobile banners, OTT pre-rolls, and influencer-led meme storms. If you’re breathing and own a device, chances are someone is trying to sell you a soft drink, an SUV, or a fantasy cricket app right now.

    Bottom line: IPL is no longer just a sports tournament; it’s India’s biggest marketing Super Bowl — stretched over two luxurious months.

    The brands that win this season won’t just outspend rivals; they’ll outthink, out-hustle, and out-wow them.
    Because in IPL 18, as in cricket, it’s not the cautious that survive. It’s the ones who know when to send it sailing into the stands.

  • Saikat Dutta revs up ABP Network as new revenue head

    Saikat Dutta revs up ABP Network as new revenue head

    MUMBAI: Saikat Dutta is putting his foot firmly on the pedal at ABP Network Pvt Ltd, joining as the network revenue head in April 2025 with a burst of fresh energy and an enviable track record in turbocharging ad sales across India’s media landscape.

    Dutta, whose career has zipped through some of the country’s biggest networks, will now steer pan-India advertising sales for ABP News, ABP Ananda, ABP Majha and ABP Asmita, besides beefing up digital revenues across connected TV, web, and app platforms.

    With 24 years of punching above his weight in advertising sales, Dutta’s resume reads like a greatest hits album: from TV Today (where he drove ad sales for Aaj Tak, Aaj Tak HD, and Good News Today) to a stint as chief operating officer at Patanjali Media, and earlier as a revenue honcho for Sun TV Network’s GEC cluster in the north and east markets.

    Before that, he made his mark at India TV, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Asia TV USA Ltd, Star TV, and ABP Group, helping these media giants rake in crores through innovative and integrated ad solutions.
    From selling blockbuster shows to orchestrating strategic alliances, Dutta has consistently delivered standout results.

    In his own words, it’s “new role, new energy!” — and with a toolkit spanning strategic planning, B2B sales, key account development, and solution selling, Dutta looks ready to crank up ABP Network’s revenue engine into overdrive.

  • Amar Vandana Paranjape steps up as senior manager at Shemaroo Entertainment

    Amar Vandana Paranjape steps up as senior manager at Shemaroo Entertainment

    MUMBAI: : Amar Vandana Paranjape has clinched a well-earned promotion at Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd, stepping up as senior manager (lead on-air promotion) for Shemaroo MarathiBana.
    A veteran with over 15 years in broadcast creativity, Amar has been the invisible hand behind many of the channel’s sharp promos, clever packaging, and seamless storytelling — from the first brainstorm to final broadcast. Now, he’s steering the full on-air promotions (OAP) ship, crafting the narrative heartbeat of Shemaroo’s Marathi offering.
    His journey has been a masterclass in media hustle: from launching Star Pravah and Zee Yuva, scripting brand solutions, leading promo operations at Star India, and even setting the pre-launch wheels turning for Hotstar at Prime Focus Technologies. Along the way, he’s worn many hats — animator, producer, director, creative lead — and worn them well.
    Armed with a powerhouse blend of creativity, leadership, and serious operational chops, Amar is now primed to supercharge Shemaroo MarathiBana’s on-air presence — with more big, bold, and brilliant ideas on the horizon.