ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Sony Yay! serves up a sweet treat of toons and festive delights

    Sony Yay! serves up a sweet treat of toons and festive delights

    MUMBAI: Holi isn’t just about gulal and gujiyas, it’s about laughter, fun, and, of course, your favourite toons! Sony Yay! is bringing the ultimate festive mash-up, pairing its most iconic characters with classic Holi sweets for a celebration that’s as colourful as it is delicious.

    Shinchan – Gujiya

    Sweet, stuffed, and always full of surprises, gujiya is the perfect match for Shinchan’s cheeky antics! Just like you never know what’s inside this Holi treat until you take a bite, you never know what Shinchan is up to next. Watch out, leave a plate of gujiyas unattended, and Shinchan might just swipe a few when you’re not looking!

    Oggy and the Cockroaches – Thandai

    Oggy loves peace and quiet, but with the cockroaches stirring up trouble, life is always full of unexpected twists just like thandai! Cool and refreshing yet spiced with a hint of madness, this drink is the perfect Holi pick for Oggy’s never-ending chaos.

    Naruto Shippuden – Jalebi

    Energetic, unstoppable, and always ready for action, Naruto is the jalebi of the toon world! This crispy, swirly, sugar-loaded delight may seem simple, but its twists and turns are as unpredictable as Naruto’s ninja moves. Whether you’re chasing dreams or the last jalebi at the Holi party, channel your inner ninja and grab every sweet moment!

    So, which mithai matches your Holi vibe? Whether you’re a playful gujiya, a fiery jalebi, or a cool thandai, Sony Yay! is serving up the ultimate festive fun. Tune in, join the Holi masti, and celebrate with Shinchan, Naruto Shippuden, and Oggy & The Cockroaches. Happy Holi! 
     

  • JioStar lines up impressive 20-brand sponsor squad for Tata IPL 2025

    JioStar lines up impressive 20-brand sponsor squad for Tata IPL 2025

    MUMBAI: JioStar has bowled over advertisers ahead of this year’s Tata IPL, announcing a robust sponsorship lineup of 20 brands ready to bat for consumer attention during cricket’s most-watched tournament.

    The impressive roster includes heavyweight brands spanning diverse categories—from food and beverages (Campa Energy, Campa, Thums Up, Amul) and fantasy sports platforms (Dream11, My11Circle, PokerBaazi, ) to financial services (SBI, PhonePe, Mutual Funds Sahi Hai, Zupee, Gpay,) and consumer goods (Joy Cosmetics, Asian Paints, Birla Opus, Jaquar Bath + Light, Allen Solly) to  digital  (Google search)  and bikes (TVS), 

    “IPL is more than just a sporting event—it’s a cultural juggernaut,” said at JioStar chief business officer for sports revenue Ishan Chatterjee. “We’re delivering scale, impact, and deep consumer engagement through cutting-edge ad innovations and seamless synergy between TV and digital platforms.”

    The broadcasting giant is pulling out all technological stops to help sponsors hit advertising sixes, offering AI-powered audience segmentation, interactive ad formats, and multilingual broadcasts. Television advertisers can capitalise on unique solutions including ‘Brand Spotlight’ exclusive placements during the crucial first five overs and CGI-led live interventions that promise to catch viewers’ eyes between boundaries.

    Running from 22 March to 25 May, the tournament will be broadcast exclusively across JioStar’s sports network and streamed on JioHotstar, giving brands unprecedented access to cricket-mad audiences across both traditional and digital viewing platforms.

    Industry analysts note this year’s sponsorship line-up reflects advertiser confidence in cricket’s premier tournament, with one marketing expert remarking: “Despite economic headwinds, brands know IPL delivers an unbeatable googly of engagement that sends ROI metrics cartwheeling.”

    As the cricketing extravaganza approaches, both fans and advertisers are padding up for what promises to be another season of spectacular sporting drama and equally impressive brand visibility plays on the commercial front.

  • India’s top MSMEs & startups shine at ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

    India’s top MSMEs & startups shine at ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards

    MUMBAI: Great ideas deserve great recognition, and ET NOW made sure of that. The IDFC First bank presents ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards Season 12 took centre stage in New Delhi, celebrating India’s most promising MSMEs and startups. With the theme ‘Powering Entrepreneurs for the Global Stage,’ the event highlighted the visionaries scaling their businesses within India while making waves in the international market.

    Former union minister & chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on coal, mines & steel Anurag Singh Thakur stated, “Over the past decade, India has risen from the ‘Fragile Five’ to one of the world’s top five economies, and in the next three years, we are set to become the third-largest economy globally. The government has actively supported MSMEs through financial reforms, ease of doing business initiatives, and credit access programs like Mudra Loans and Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme. Today, India is home to over 1.6 lakh start-ups and 117 unicorns, proving that our youth are building enterprises that compete on the global stage. Our vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 is powered by MSMEs that are integrating into global supply chains, focusing on quality and innovation.”

    NSE MD & CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan stated, “India’s thriving capital market is an anomaly, as traditionally, only wealthy nations develop strong investment ecosystems. However, with 11 crore registered investors and 21 crore accounts, India is now uniquely positioned to fund entrepreneurial dreams. MSMEs must leverage capital markets to boost credibility, secure funding, and scale their businesses.”

    His speech didn’t shy away from geopolitical shifts shaping India’s future, adding, “The world is moving from a unipolar system (dominated by the U.S.) to a multipolar system, where India is emerging as a key player alongside major economies. The decline of global regulatory frameworks, such as the WTO (World Trade Organization), suggests that large economies are now prioritizing bilateral agreements over multilateral trade rules.”

    The awards night honoured outstanding enterprises across 14 categories, including 3 IDFC First Bank Rising Star Awards and 4 Editorial Awards. Winners were meticulously selected through a rigorous pan-India screening and expert jury evaluation, ensuring only the best took home the accolades.

    Beyond the awards, the event saw engaging panel discussions featuring industry heavyweights who shared their expertise and foresight on the future of entrepreneurship. Speakers included Chinmay Dhoble (IDFC FIRST Bank), Akis Evangelidis (Nothing), Aman Gupta (boAt Lifestyle), Dr. A Velumani (Thyrocare), Anand Mane (Joul), Bert Mueller (California Burrito), Spencer Schneier (Commenda), Radha Kirthivasan (BSE), Vivek Gambhir (Lightspeed India), Padmaja Ruparel (IAN Group), and Anisha Singh (She Capital).

    With India’s MSMEs and startups gaining unprecedented momentum, the ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow Awards proved that the future of business isn’t just bright—it’s unstoppable.

     

  • Fancode fuels India’s F1 obsession with Hindi commentary & expert shows

    Fancode fuels India’s F1 obsession with Hindi commentary & expert shows

    MUMBAI: If you thought Formula 1 was already thrilling, Fancode just stepped on the gas. The official broadcaster of F1 in India is shifting gears to bring a turbocharged experience for motorsport fans across the country. For the first time, all Formula 1 races will roar into Indian households in Hindi and select regional languages, ensuring no fan is left in the pit lane.

    In an industry-first move, Fancode is offering The F1 Show, Ted’s Notebook, Ted’s Qualifying Notebook, and The Chequered Flag from Sky Sports’ coveted content roster, bringing fans top-tier pre- and post-race analysis. And if that wasn’t enough, the entire Formula 1 season can now be streamed for just Rs 899, with a race weekend pass available for casual viewers who just want to dip their toes in the high-speed action.

    Subscribers will get access to an adrenaline-packed lineup, including F2, F3, F1 Academy, MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, the D Superbike Racing Championship, UIM E1 World Championship, and DTM. Want it all? The Motorsports Pass—priced at Rs 999—lets fans unlock every roaring engine and every chequered flag across multiple championships.

    Fancode co-founder Yannick Colaco is revved up about the expansion. “This year, Fancode is set to become the ultimate destination in India for followers of motorsports. We’ve listened to the fans and enhanced our product to deliver a world-class viewing experience at an affordable price.”

    Motorsports in India isn’t just a niche anymore. Over the past five years, the audience has surged by nearly 30 per cent, and Formula 1 alone has a staggering 60 million followers in the country. With viewership on the rise, Fancode is ensuring that accessibility isn’t a roadblock—because nothing ruins a high-speed chase like a buffering screen or a language barrier.

    Fans can watch all the high-octane drama on the Fancode mobile app (Android, iOS), TV app (Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Jio STB, Samsung TV, OTT Play, Amazon Prime Video channels, Airtel XStream), and on the web at www.Fancode.com.

    With more languages, more analysis, and more content, Fancode is redefining how India experiences it. 

  • Vikas Purohit named CEO new business ventures at The Times of India

    Vikas Purohit named CEO new business ventures at The Times of India

    MUMBAI: The Times of India (BCCL) has appointed Vikas Purohit as CEO new business ventures, entrusting him with spearheading new growth initiatives. In this role, he will identify high-potential business opportunities, craft strategic plans, and lead execution to build scalable, profitable ventures.

    Purohit brings a wealth of experience, having previously led Meta India’s small business group, supporting over 10 million enterprises. He has also served as CEO of Tata CLiq Fashion and held key management positions at Amazon Fashion, Reliance Brands, and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail.

    An alumnus of IIT BHU with a PGDBM from IIM Bangalore, Purohit’s expertise in digital commerce and retail makes him a formidable force in business innovation.

  • ICC-Unilever sponsorship deal: a sign that women’s cricket has arrived

    ICC-Unilever sponsorship deal: a sign that women’s cricket has arrived

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has broken new ground by unbundling its sponsorship rights, securing Unilever as the first dedicated partner for women’s competitions, ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya told SportsPro. 

    In a deal announced on International Women’s Day, the consumer goods giant said it would promote its Rexona and Dove brands across all ICC women’s events over the next two years. The partnership covers the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, Women’s T20 World Cup, U19 Women’s T20 World Cups and the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027.

    Dahiya told SportsPro the move reflects the “standalone commercial value” of women’s cricket, with Unilever “jumping at” the opportunity to sponsor these tournaments.

    “Women’s cricket is no longer an add-on or a freebie attached to men’s cricket,” Dahiya said. “It’s a distinct product, has its own unique cultural resonance, commercial potential, and has its own ability to stand on its own.”

    Unilever’s existing involvement in women’s sport – including partnerships with WSL clubs Chelsea and Manchester City, plus sponsorship of this year’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – “absolutely facilitated” discussions with the ICC.

    Beyond tournament branding, the partnership extends to digital initiatives, fan experiences and the ICC’s flag bearers programme. Unilever will also support Criiio festivals, grassroots events introducing women and girls worldwide to cricket.

    Dahiya confirmed that while the deal specifically covers women’s cricket, revenue won’t be ring fenced exclusively for the women’s game but added to central funding.

    “If you restricted women’s cricket to only revenue they were making, that would be a gross injustice,” he explained. “The commercial size of men’s sport outweighs women’s sport by factors of probably like 100.”

    The ICC has committed to maintaining equal standards across men’s and women’s competitions, including event presentation, facilities and prize money.

    “We’ve taken a very conscious decision that we’re not going to deliver to the competing teams and our fans any less than what we would for men,” Dahiya added. “Many times more will go into women’s cricket than just that money.”

  • Times Network launches Unilist.in to rank colleges with real-time insights

    Times Network launches Unilist.in to rank colleges with real-time insights

    MUMBAI: When it comes to picking the right college, guesswork is no longer an option. Times Network, India’s leading broadcast and digital powerhouse, has launched Unilist.in, a one-stop platform providing data-driven insights into higher education institutions across India. Designed for students, parents, and corporate recruiters, this platform aims to redefine academic decision-making with credible, real-time information.

    Going beyond conventional ranking systems, Unilist.in leverages a live survey mechanism with inputs from over 150 B-schools, offering dynamic rankings and comprehensive institutional analysis. The platform is backed by five years of accumulated data, tracking year-over-year growth, faculty performance, placement records, infrastructure, and student sentiment.

    “Our goal is to bridge the information gap in higher education by offering transparency, deep data analytics, and expert-backed insights,” said a Times Network spokesperson. “With Unilist.in, students can make informed academic choices, and recruiters can identify the best talent with confidence.”

    Adding a multimedia edge, Unilist.in also features exclusive content from Times Network, including podcasts, expert interviews, reels, and discussions with leading academicians and industry professionals. For students mapping out their academic futures and recruiters scouting top talent, Unilist.in is set to become the ultimate report card of higher education where insights, not assumptions, shape success.

  • No more ‘gutka’ with the game? BCCI faces heat over surrogate ads

    No more ‘gutka’ with the game? BCCI faces heat over surrogate ads

    MUMBAI: Cricket might be a game of glorious uncertainties, but one thing the Union Health Ministry wants to be absolutely certain about is a tobacco-free Indian Premier League (IPL). In a major crackdown ahead of the tournament’s 22 March 2025 kickoff, the ministry has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ban all forms of tobacco and alcohol advertising, particularly surrogate promotions by gutka manufacturers endorsed by Bollywood celebrities and former cricketers.

    The ministry’s directive comes after a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vital Strategies, published in the British Medical Journal, which found that 41.3 per cent of all smokeless tobacco (SLT) surrogate ads in 2023 were displayed during the last 17 matches of the Cricket World Cup. These ads, often disguised as ‘elaichi’ mouth freshener promotions, allow tobacco brands to sidestep advertising bans while maintaining high visibility.

    In a letter dated 5 March 2025 to IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal and the BCCI, Director General of Health Services Atul Goel called for a blanket ban on tobacco and alcohol advertising across stadiums, related events, and national TV broadcasts. The ministry has also recommended that sports authorities discourage players, commentators, and stakeholders from endorsing tobacco-linked brands, either directly or indirectly.

    The letter stressed that cricketers are role models for millions, and the IPL, India’s largest sporting spectacle, has a moral responsibility to support public health initiatives. Goel pointed out that tobacco and alcohol consumption are leading contributors to India’s non-communicable disease (NCD) burden, with cardiovascular ailments, cancer, lung disease, diabetes, and hypertension accounting for over 70 per cent of annual deaths. India ranks second in global tobacco-related fatalities, with nearly 1.4 million deaths per year, while alcohol remains the country’s most widely used psychoactive substance.

    Despite strict advertising restrictions, India’s alcohol and tobacco industries continue to wield influence through high-profile sporting events like the IPL. The alco-bev market, currently worth Rs 1.7 trillion, is projected to touch Rs 5 trillion by FY28, while the tobacco sector is set to generate 14 billion dollors in revenue by 2025, according to Statista. However, with increasing government scrutiny, companies are expected to cut brand extension ad spends by 20-30 per cent, reports Financial Express.

    The crackdown isn’t limited to cricket. India became the first country to extend tobacco advertising prohibitions to OTT platforms from 1 September 2023. Now, new proposals seek to mandate non-skippable 30-second anti-tobacco health warnings on streaming content featuring tobacco use.

    With the IPL just weeks away, the big question remains: Will the BCCI enforce a ban on surrogate ads in stadiums and broadcasts? If implemented, this move could significantly impact brand visibility for tobacco and alcohol manufacturers while reinforcing cricket’s commitment to public health.

    For now, it’s game on for stricter regulations, but whether the IPL will play ball remains to be seen.

  • Harshit Sahni steps up as senior director at Warner Bros. Discovery

    Harshit Sahni steps up as senior director at Warner Bros. Discovery

    MUMBAI: Big moves, bigger responsibilities—Harshit Sahni has taken on a new leadership role as senior director – cluster revenue head for factual & lifestyle, eurosport, international business – south Asia at Warner Bros. Discovery. With over two decades of experience in media, advertising, and revenue strategy, Sahni is all set to steer the business into new territories of growth and innovation.

    Having already made an impact as cluster revenue head since September 2024, Sahni now takes the reins at a crucial time for the industry. With advertising dynamics shifting and digital transformation accelerating, he aims to push the boundaries of content monetisation and strategic partnerships in south Asia’s evolving media ecosystem.

    His track record speaks volumes. At Warner Bros. Discovery and previously at Discovery Inc., Sony Pictures Networks, and Star News, Sahni has consistently driven advertising revenue, built strategic partnerships, and spearheaded innovative sales models. From launching ad-sales operations in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives to securing 80 per cent market share in key partnerships, he has been a key player in shaping the industry’s revenue streams.

    A results-driven leader, Sahni has a history of crafting integrated advertising solutions, establishing new revenue streams, and pioneering business models that redefine commercial success. His ability to forecast trends, optimise advertising strategies, and execute high-impact campaigns makes him a force to reckon with in the world of factual entertainment and lifestyle content.

    The future of factual & lifestyle media in south Asia looks promising, and with Sahni leading the charge, expect innovative advertising models, strategic brand partnerships, and bold revenue strategies that redefine content monetisation.

  • Navbharat Times pushes for gender-inclusive Hindi with new campaign

    Navbharat Times pushes for gender-inclusive Hindi with new campaign

    MUMBAI: On International Women’s Day, Navbharat Times, in collaboration with FCB Ulka, unveiled a pioneering initiative, ‘Barabari Ki Bhasha’,aimed at making the Hindi language more inclusive and gender-equal.

    For centuries, Hindi has been a gendered language, often lacking female-specific terms for professions and achievements, particularly in male-dominated fields such as STEM, politics, sports, and entrepreneurship. This campaign seeks to address this gap by introducing new, gender-neutral or female-centric words, ensuring language no longer limits aspirations.

    Research indicates that language shapes society by influencing participation in various fields. The absence of feminine equivalents for certain professions often discourages female involvement, reinforcing gender disparities. By introducing these new words, the initiative hopes to empower young girls, providing them with the language to dream, aspire, and succeed.

    The Times of India Group president & chief brand officer Partha Sinha stated, “The first step in understanding a culture is through its language. With a gendered language, some inclusiveness is always left out. ‘Barabari Ki Bhasha’ aims to reflect the true desires and aspirations of society, marking a significant cultural shift.”

    FCB Ulka chief creative officer Hemant Shringy added, “‘Barabari Ki Bhasha’ is more than a campaign; it’s a movement. Language shapes how we think, and by introducing these new words, we take a meaningful step toward true equality. Every girl deserves to see herself represented in the words we use daily.”

    Initially launched in print, the campaign will expand to digital platforms and other media to maximise its impact.