ITV

Category: Regional

  • Colors Marathi is back with all new episodes of its top-rated shows

    Colors Marathi is back with all new episodes of its top-rated shows

    MUMBAI: With a promise to connect with its viewers with culturally rooted content, COLORS Marathi, is all set to return with fresh offerings for its viewers starting mid July with new episodes of its existing shows and a brand new ethos. Continuing to provide viewers with wholesome entertainment in the comfort of their homes, Colors Marathi launches a new brand promise Navi Umed, Navi Bharari which means The wings of new hope aptly summarizing the channel’s promise of enriching the lives of its audience with meaningful entertainment in a brand new avatar. The new tagline also promises to empower and provide new hope and positivity to its viewers during these challenging times.

    With this brand new ethos, COLORS Marathi has launched an impactful integrated marketing campaign capturing the need for a fresh start amidst the unprecedented situation, while riding on the colors of love, faith, bond and friendship. The campaign aims at touching souls with shows that have ruled the hearts of its viewers for years and with brand new content which will be launched in the coming months. The campaign is currently live on-air on COLORS Marathi and its digital platforms as well. 

    On returning with fresh content in a new avatar, Viacom18 Marathi Entertainment business head Nikhil Sane said, “COLORS Marathi has always focused on narrating stories in a relatable manner along with a cultural essence. In these extraordinary times, the channel has stayed true to its promise of not only keeping its viewers engaged and entertained at all times, but also strengthening its bond. With our new tagline Navi Umed Navi Bharari we are not only determined to stay connected with our audiences, but also bring to their screens their favorite shows that they have missed over the past few months. We are also working on a line-up of new shows that we will launch very soon. We are certain that together these initiatives will strengthen our relationship even more.”

    Starting mid-July, the channel will present to its viewers fresh episodes of its existing shows Raja Ranichi Ga Jodi, Balumamachya Navana Changbhala, Jeev Zala YedaPisa, Swamini, Sukhachya Sarini Hye Maan Baware, among others. COLORS Marathi’s unwavering commitment to provide compelling stories will further strengthen with future line-up of shows in the coming months such as Sundara Manamadhye Bharli, Sakhhe Shejari and JayJay Swami Samartha.

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  • Malayalam GECs resume shooting, hopeful of ad recovery by Onam

    Malayalam GECs resume shooting, hopeful of ad recovery by Onam

    NEW DELHI: After months of standstill, GECs across some states have been permitted to resume indoor shooting of serials with strict guidelines. Regional channels are slowly treading the path to normalcy, Malayalam GECs being one. 

    Malayala Manorama Television COO Satheesh PR shares, “Traditionally, most Malayalam fiction has been indoors. There are some arrangements through the government-owned Chitranjali studios to enable outdoor shoot in a controlled environment and we have a large studio floor of our own which will be put to use for non-fiction with all the guidelines being followed.

    "MMTv has been fortunate to have been managing a profitable business with a fairly decent-sized team. While the entire industry is facing a cash crunch, I don't think the channel's focus being regional might alter the issue.” 

    Zee Keralam too has resumed indoor and outdoor shootings of its programmes and serials from 1 June onwards, strictly adhering to Covid2019 protocols. The shooting is with minimal technicians and crew members following social distancing, wearing masks, gloves, shields and frequently sanitising their hands. The floors of the shooting studio will also be disinfected before and after the shoot.

    Zee Keralam business head Santosh J Nair  says that the shooting unit has been downsized and the channel is giving priority to the safety of its team members. 

    “Zee Keralam's shoots are happening with limited number of crew members (25 people), as permitted by the government. There is a daily temperature check for everybody and all members present on the shoot are compulsorily wearing masks throughout. Even the artistes remove their masks only for the specific shot. We try and finish the shoot with as less takes as possible to ensure banking of episodes and we bank as much footage as possible within the day,” he explains.

    Surya TV has also resumed shooting with 20 people on set. Surya TV business head Reghu Ramachandran shares, “Surya TV is adhering to all government guidelines and having lesser people on the set has not affected the output in any manner.”

    Ramachandran adds that  from the content point of view, it is not going to make any kind of adjustment in the quality of the content. "The content will remain intact. Our only aim will be to improve our  revenue share. As far as Surya is concerned, our ratings have gone up and it has become no two. That way our revenues should shoot up rather than coming down. We are also gearing up for some new launches next month and possibly by August, we will have some new properties up and running."

    Flowers TV managing director R Sreekandan Nair shares that as a network, it has always focussed on developing in-house content. “Format shows have been our forte for a long time. So, now it will be indoor shooting with limited resources, continuing to develop innovative content to surprise and satisfy our viewers' appetite,” he mentions. 

    Nair says that the methodology of programming and ad sales will change considerably. "Human interactions will be minimal and in this scenario, developing and nurturing business relationships will be a challenge. The comeback strategy for Flowers is simple – focusing on our strength, which is highly-engaging non-fiction content,” Nair further adds.

    Madison Media chief buying officer Vinay Hegde says that the lockdown forced production shutdown, leading to a dearth of original content and hence, GECs had no option but to resort to repeats. 

    "This, along with the shift in viewership to news, made things worse for GECs, where both viewership and ad rates took a beating. Some GECs used their movie libraries to try and retain viewership to whatever extent possible, though it didn’t help in attracting revenues. Y-O-Y GECs saw their revenues down by more than 80 per cent, due to low inventory sales and discounts," he says.

    Satheesh shares that MMTv is witnessing greater traction in advertisers' demand in June for both news and GEC as it prepares for Onam in August.

    After a two-month break, the serials of Zee Keralam started airing with new content. The seven serials that were already running successfully in the channel went on-air from 1 June. Nair reveals that the channel is seeing an increase in the numbers of advertisers thanks to the ease in lockdown.

    The Media Ant co-founder Samir Chaudhary says, “Media Ant has experienced a drop of about 30 per cent in the Malayalam GEC business post-Covid2019. In June, there has been an increase in inquiries but has not translated to business yet.”

    Flowers COO Anil Ayroor adds, "We can't change what has happened in the past viz floods, slowdown etc.  But we are very hopeful about the future. It is only a matter of time before the market becomes conducive and advertisers throng back to channels. As much as the media wants advertisers, the vice versa is also true and advertising is the only way to increase sales. And with the biggest festival in Kerala, Onam, coming in August, Kerala will be in a better position to bounce back to normalcy.”

    Maitri advertising managing director Raju Menon says that some of the universities, schools, colleges, jewellery brands, real estate and umbrella brands have started advertising again since the ease of lockdown. Umbrella brands are aggressively advertising on GECS due to heavy rains.

    Flowers senior vice president of sales and marketing Anil Devan reveals that due to the lockdown, a lot of businesses are under stress as the entire supply chain has been disrupted and advertisers don’t see a reason to advertise if it doesn’t translate into sales. So, it has impacted the entire media industry and Flowers is no exception.

    He shares that special packages had been rolled out in order to lure advertisers.  "Now with our original content coming back, we are gradually getting there. Also, what matters to advertisers are the BARC numbers," he explains.  

    Adding to this, Hegde says optimistically, "Changes in plans are already indicating that GECs will be back in demand as originals start coming back and week 22 (BARC) already shows the viewership starting to shift back to GECs. Originals will only make this more consistent. Channels estimate that they would be back to at least 60-65 per cent levels of pre-Covid2019 ad revenue by June end itself."

  • Sri Adhikari Brothers Initiative 2.0 to enable migrant workers to show hidden talent

    Sri Adhikari Brothers Initiative 2.0 to enable migrant workers to show hidden talent

    MUMBAI: While India is battling Covid2019 at its forefront, unemployment has shaken the very core of its economy and its impact is likely to change the dynamics of its labour force essentially of migrant workers. To imbibe the PM’s thought of AtmaNirbharata, Sri Adhikari Brothers has opened a gateway of employment, to the less fortunate migrant workers who have been rendered jobless, through Sri Adhikari Brothers Initiative 2.0.

    Sri Adhikari Brothers will use its network channels including Mastiii, Dabang, Maiboli and digital platforms to call out to millions of migrant workers who might have any talent that they would want to showcase. Be it dancing, singing, acting or any other performing arts would be welcome. The program would shortlist thousands of individuals month on month who have a hidden talent and will monetarily reward the chosen 1000 people by means of direct bank transfer to their accounts. The chosen ones will also be aired on the network channels of the group.

    Sri Adhikari Brothers, through its association, would further attempt to maximise growth for the talent by providing them a break in suitable professional opportunities.

    Co-founder Markand  Adhikari said, “Mostly all business minds get focused on protecting their business and bottom lines in such tough times. We are aware that millions of Indians have had to return back to their villages after being left with no option. No matter what job they were in, there’s a possibility that many of them had talent that they once in life might have had to compromise to earn their livelihood. We have often seen videos of people on the street singing or dancing as well as any professional. Some fortunate ones have even touched the stars. Our attempt is to put a structure, reach out to millions of Indians in a planned manner – give them hope, give them employment and ensuring direct transfer of money into their accounts and thereby give them self-belief to be AatmaNirbhar.”

    For this initiative, Sri Adhikari Brothers has put aside a dedicated team that will be driving this program.

  • BIG Ganga brings ‘YOGA FUTUREFIT’, a two-hour yoga show on International Yoga Day

    BIG Ganga brings ‘YOGA FUTUREFIT’, a two-hour yoga show on International Yoga Day

    MUMBAI: BIG Ganga, ZEE Entertainment Enterprise Ltd's Bhojpuri general entertainment channel in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal, brings to its viewers a morning of fitness to promote healthy living. Celebrating the occasion of International Yoga Day, the channel brings a fitness show ‘YOGA FUTUREFIT’ to motivate viewers to take up the habit of Yoga to reduce their anxiety and keep their mental health at check. The two-hour show will be telecast on 21 June between 7 am to 9 am on BIG Ganga and  6 am to 8 am on Facebook.

    Advocating the benefits of the practice, YOGA FUTUREFIT will be a two-hour yoga special initiative on International Yoga Day, that will feature Yoga Guru Suneel Singh. The renowned expert teaches and practices Yogasana, Pranayama, Bandha, Mantra, Mudra, meditation, cleansing Kriyas and Japanese Tao Yoga all across the globe. Joining him on the show will be Yoga enthusiast Nidhi Jha. The duo will come together to speak about the benefits of Yoga and give viewers tips to make their future fit and healthy. Helping the audience make the smart and healthy lifestyle choice, these two experts will also be seen teaching them a host of Yoga postures that they can practice at home.

    ZEEL Cluster Head Samrat Ghosh said, “We have always kept our audience at the very core of what we stand for and elevated their mood during festivities, celebrations, or such testing times. In our endeavour to eliminate the current anxiety and negativity that we see, we curated this initiative to help our viewers maintain calm and a healthy lifestyle. Yoga has always been a relaxing exercise that has many benefits and through this activity, we would want to urge our audience to incorporate it as part of their daily routine and move towards a healthier future. We would also like to thank Suneel Singh and Nidhi Jha for taking time out and helping our viewers.”

    BIG Ganga and ZEE Biskope business head Amarpreet Singh Saini said, “We always give importance to the wellbeing of society and reiterate the same through each of our shows and offerings. YOGA FUTUREFIT is yet another initiative by us to instil a sense of how important it is to lead a healthy and happy life. As people cannot go to gyms or go out for their regular walks, Yoga is a perfect workout which we all can follow at home at present and long after the lockdown ends.”

    The property will be supported through a 360-degree marketing campaign where TV channels BIG Ganga and ZEE Biskope will run the promo and will further be amplified through graphical support. In addition to the above, a one-week pre-promotion across all the digital platforms through cover, GIF, static and micro content shall further amplify the reach of the property.

    BIG Ganga has been enhancing and enriching regional pride through its new offerings. Adding to the excitement and keeping its audiences entertained, the channel will also be coming up with its Sawaan line-ups. These new and original Bhojpuri shows are sure to entertain audiences with its unique content and placement, thereby making the channel an apt prime time viewing choice for the entire family. With more shows in the pipeline, the channel is all set to redefine entertainment and original content for its regional audience.

  • Dangal launches fiction show ‘Jyoti’

    Dangal launches fiction show ‘Jyoti’

    MUMBAI:  Hindi general entertainment channel, Dangal launches Jyoti a women-centric show which focusses on the daily struggles faced by Indian women. The series revolves around the story of Jyoti portrayed by Sneha Wagh as she narrates her sacrifices, dreams and ambitions while being the only earning member in her family. Additionally, Sriti Jha, Srinidhi Shetty, Sameer Sharma and Varun Khandelwal also play pivotal roles. Jyoti highlights the many issues and social evils that Indian women in middle class homes are faced with. Currently on-air, viewers can watch Jyoti on Dangal daily at 9 pm with its repeat telecast followed at 10 am the next day.

    Jyoti Hindi GEC program Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo (as per BARC India’s data for Week 21). A socially relevant show, Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo also focused on the hardships faced by Bharti due to her short height. The show was widely accepted by viewers and consistently ranked as one of the top Hindi general entertainment programs across India even during the lockdown.

    Wagh said, “I come from a middle-class family myself and identified with the character of Jyoti due to a lot of commonalities like taking up responsibilities of her home. Jyoti who is the elder daughter is ambitious, responsible, grounded and very relatable by both women and men. This show is very close to me as it helps me look back at both my fight and how I have grown through the years. I am glad that Dangal will now make sure the voice of Jyoti reaches the roots of India, and to every household. I hope it helps everyone to keep going, as it does to me.”

    On launching Jyoti for its viewers, a Dangal spokesperson said, “In difficult times like these, we have existing problems knocking our door with every step, that we take forward. With such ambiguity around the world, we believe that it is our responsibility to give our viewers the hope and the zeal to keep going and what better way than a show like Jyoti to do the same. The show is rooted in the social system and is extremely relatable to families across our country. We hope that show will help connect with viewers, empower women and create a mark just like Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo did.”  

    Dangal TV, in the world of entertainment, is a brand synonymous with constantly delivering diverse stories. The channel is a pioneer in presenting shows, across genres.

  • Zee Biskope presents digital talent hunt, ‘Talent – Camera – Action’

    Zee Biskope presents digital talent hunt, ‘Talent – Camera – Action’

    MUMBAI: On the occasion of camera day, Zee Biskope presents a first-of-its-kind digital talent hunt, talent – camera – action!  Through the hunt, the channel invites the audience to showcase their talent across categories that include – music, dance, acting and special talents. Starting from 10 -19 June 2020, viewers can shoot a one-minute video clip capturing their performance in any of the categories using a mobile or digital camera and share it on WhatsApp number 9169315002, along with their name and address. The winners of the talent hunt will be featured on Zee Biskope’s social and television platforms on camera day – 29 June.

    Amongst the said categories, the music category shall see participants croon out melodies in the genres of Indian classical, regional folk, or modern commercial music. Allowing one to shake a leg in style, the dance section consists of Indian classical dance forms, modern bollywood, and bhojiwood freestyle. The acting category will see the best theatricals, monologues, mimicry, character portrayals or miming. Depending on the requirements, solo and group entries can be sent for the above-mentioned three categories. For those whose talent doesn’t fall under any of the above categories, they can send in their entries under special talents. This will give them the chance to showcase their talent in stand-up comedy, instrumentals, beatboxing or recitations.

    On this new initiative, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd cluster head East Samrat Ghosh said, “As the world evolves from the pandemic, a new way of life is being discovered. We’ve learnt to be more resilient and future-ready. When consumer connect through on-ground events doesn’t seem to be a reality, Zee Biskope has taken a step ahead to acknowledge our talented viewers through the virtual world. Creating such IPs is an effort by the channel to cater novelty to its viewers and develop a parallel platform for advertisers to explore. This is just the beginning of many such initiatives the channel plans to deliver in the recent future.”

    Speaking about the digital talent hunt, ZEE Biskope and BIG Ganga business head Amarpreet Singh Saini said, “Being in the arena of entertainment, Zee Biskope finds no better occasion than camera day to rejoice how cameras have made telling our stories easier than ever. With our audience spending more time at home, this digital talent hunt will provide them with a gateway to showcase their skills beyond the boundaries of their homes. The region is known to have given the country some iconic performers in the cultural sphere, we do expect a plethora of talents pooling in to make it to the television platform. Unlike other movie channels in the region, Zee Biskope goes beyond mere movie showcasing and gives viewers an opportunity to engage deeply with the brand – be it canter activity pre lockdown and the virtual talent hunt post lockdown, the brand stands true to the commitment to viewers to experience the magic of movies not just virtually but in reality as well. I wish the participants all the very best.”

    Touted as the go-to destination for every Bhojpuri movie lover, Zee Biskope is available on Airtel (channel no 663), Tata Sky (channel no 1120), DEN Bihar(channel no 840), DEN Jharkhand (channel no 839), DD Free Dish (channel no 31), d2h (channel no 859), Dish TV (channel no 1555), Siti Cable (channel no 214) and Darsh Digital (channel no 189). It’ll soon be available on all other major cable platforms.

  • Zee Keralam starts in-house shoots with strict safety measures

    Zee Keralam starts in-house shoots with strict safety measures

    MUMBAI: Close on the heels of resuming the outdoor shoots of serials, Zee Keralam has also started its in-house shootings strictly adhering to Covid2019 protocols. The shooting of Funny Nights with Pearle Maaney hosted by actress Pearle Maaney has started with minimal technicians and the crew members, following social distancing norms, wearing masks, gloves, shields and regularly sanitising their hands. 

    The floors of the shooting studio will be disinfected before and after the shoot. Each crew member will be given personal water bottles and other eatables during the break of the shoot. It is nearly after three months that the studio floors of Zee Keralam have been opened for a shoot. The channel has briefed the technicians and helpers about the protocols that must be observed mandatorily during the shoot. The channel is also providing transportation and temperature checks to everyone entering the studio.  

    “ZEE Keralam channel show's shootings are happening with the limited number of crew members as permitted by the government. There is a daily temperature check for everybody, and all members present in the shooting spot are compulsorily wearing masks throughout. Even the artistes remove their masks only for the specific shot. We try to finish the shoot with as less takes as possible to ensure banking of episodes, and we bank as much footage as possible within the day”, said Zee Keralam business head Santosh J Nair.
     

  • Zee South Cluster donates Rs 1.35 crore to daily-wage workers

    Zee South Cluster donates Rs 1.35 crore to daily-wage workers

    MUMBAI: Zee South Cluster, part of the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, has cumulatively donated Rs 1.35 crore to support more than 1,000 pandemic-hit daily-wage workers in the television industry across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala. The aid has been directly sent to their bank accounts, thus avoiding delays.

    This initiative of Zee Network has come as a boon to the entire television and production ecosystem, at a time when people have needed it the most, be it for medical expenses or basic necessities. In the wake of shoots coming to halt, these funds have been of immense benefit to daily wage earners as it helps them make ends meet. The workers have also expressed gratitude towards the network for easing their burden in these troubled times.

    “We are truly moved by the generosity and kindness that the channel has shown us in this time of crisis. All the crew members are thankful that Zee has stood by us and treated us like family. The aid provided by the channel has helped us manage our daily expenses. My family and I will always be grateful for the help extended to us by Zee”, said Senthil, a crew member of Zee Tamil’s fiction shows Sathya and Rajamagal.

    Aroor Jagadish, producer and director of Zee Kannada’s fiction show Jothe Jotheyali, said: “It has been a difficult with the Covid2019 pandemic and Zee has been a pillar of support for us, helping us get through this time. The initiative has immensely helped reduce the financial burden on our families and we are blessed to be a part of the Zee family. With the lockdown being phased out and operations resuming, we continue to rely on the Zee Network for constant support during this crucial period.”

    “It is during such difficult times that the community must rise to the occasion and take responsibility. We believe that all of us have a basic duty to give back to the society, contributing in whatever way possible to join the efforts in coming of this grave crisis. This initiative of the network to support the daily wage workers in the television industry is a testament to our commitment in supporting the people who form such a crucial part of our industry and hopefully enable them to cope with the new normal that COVID-19 has left us in”, said Siju Prabhakaran, south cluster head, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Pvt Ltd.

    Ever since the pandemic struck, ZEEL has come forth to join the fight against Covid2019. Recently, through a unique digital concert in commemoration of 25 years of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, the network raised funds for GIVEINDIA towards those affected. Further, all of its employees were urged to donate voluntarily to the PM CARES Fund and the network matched the amount collected with its own and the total was contributed to the fund. With its belief of ‘extraordinary together’ the network has been a responsible players in giving back to the society, especially the daily wage workers who form the backbone of the industry.

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  • Malaysia-based Astro woos Tamil diaspora with more HD content

    Malaysia-based Astro woos Tamil diaspora with more HD content

    MUMBAI: Malaysia-based Astro has added more Tamil HD content on the platform including Zee Tamil HD, Star Vijay HD, Colors Tamil HD. The Chakravarthy Pack will be offering premium content to over 300,000 Tamil households in Malaysia.

    Astro Indian channel business vice president Marc Lourdes said, “As we continue to offer customers relevant, high-quality entertainment, we are excited to introduce more HD content from 1 June. Astro Vaanavil HD (CH 201) will offer Astro and NJOI customers a better viewing experience along with new series – Tamiletchumy and Nalam Ariya Aaval, as well as more local Tamil movies, telemovies, short films, and, local Malayalam and Telugu dramas are in the pipeline.”

    “Fans of legendary superstar Rajinikanth will be able to enjoy seventy of his movies in celebration of his 70th birthday this year, ranging from his first movie Apoorva Raagangal to the latest release this year Darbar on Rajini70 HD (CH 100), a pop-up channel from 1 to 30 June.  Zee Tamil HD (CH 235), one of India’s most popular channels, will also be available on the Chakravarthy Pack,” Lourdes added.

    Chakravarthy Pack customers can enjoy more HD content with Zee Tamil HD in addition to Star Vijay HD and Colors Tamil HD which will offer premium shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs S2 and Comedy Gangsters; inspiring talk show, Tamizha Tamizha; variety shows including cooking show, Anjarai Petti; exciting game shows Genes S9 and Super Mom S2; and special effects-laden epics, as well as dramas including Sri Vishnu Dasavatharam, Rettai Roja and Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari. In light of the recent upgrade of Chakravarthy Pack to HD, SD channels i.e. Raj TV, Jaya TV and Kalaignar TV will no longer be available on the pack.

    “It’s good to be back in Malaysia. Even better is launching our leading Tamil channel Zee Tamil on Malaysia’s leading content provider Astro. We are excited to bring the best of Tamil entertainment to the local market. Hopefully this is going to be the first of many endeavours in Malaysia,” Zee Network APAC executive vice president Tripta Singh commented. 

  • Asianet starts airing popular serials

    Asianet starts airing popular serials

    MUMBAI: Prominent GEC in Kerala Asianet is back with some exciting entertainment for the audience. TV shoots which were stalled due to the Covid2019 outbreak have resumed following the guidelines issued by the government.

    The GEC has started airing a few episodes in the content bank and the newly shot episodes from 1 June. Popular shows Maunaragam and Kudumbavilakku will go on air from 15 June.

    The channel will also telecast popular series Kannante Radha at 5.30 pm, Sanjeevani at 6 pm, Vanambadi at 7 pm, Pournamithingal at 7.30 pm, Seethakalyanam at 8 pm and Kasturiman at 8.30 pm.  

    Sanjivani is one of the popular medical dramas which portrays the lives of a group of doctors. The show has Surbhi Chandna, Namit Khanna, Mohnish Bahl, Gurdeep Kohli and Gaurav Chopra in the main roles.