ITV

Category: Regional

  • New FTA channel T TV to focus on Punjabi audience

    New FTA channel T TV to focus on Punjabi audience

    MUMBAI: T TV, Taur Punjab Di, is the latest 24 hour free to air channel being launched by Teleone Consumers Product Pvt Ltd which is a part of DV Group of companies and is aimed at providing quality entertainment to the north Indian audience.

    The channel is available on DD Free Dish channel number 73 and on Dish TV and will focus on Punjabi songs and Punjabi movies to provide a wholesome entertainment diet to its north Indian viewers.

    DV Group has varied interest in specialised Ayurveda medicine, serious players in media and broadcasting segment with Maha Movie and now T TV and has plans to diversify in this segment with the aim of launching few more channels in different genres. The group is headed by the chairman Darshan Singh and MD Vishvajeet Sharma.

    T TV has sourced the best movies of yesteryears depicting the rich Punjabi culture and will showcase those movies to inculcate rich Punjabi heritage and will also air Punjabi songs which are universally acceptable to the entire Indian audience.

  • Colors Tamil to launch singing reality show ‘Singing Stars’

    Colors Tamil to launch singing reality show ‘Singing Stars’

    MUMBAI: Colors Tamil is all set to celebrate its first anniversary milestone with the launch of a singing reality show, called ‘Singing Stars’. The show focuses on the ‘strength of a relationship’, will feature unique duos come together and give enthralling performances in unison. It will premiere on 16 March every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm.

    Colors Tamil business head Anup Chandrasekharan said, “Within the inaugural year, Colors Tamil has built a strong bond with our viewers. Over the course of the last one year we have provided variety, quality and immersive programming that managed to strike a chord with the viewers.”

    He added, “Singing Stars is yet another unique reality show that not only presents one’s singing talent but also conveys the positive aspect of the relationship of the duo. The viewers will experience the significance of high level of emotion, energy, synergy and support through this show.”

    The show is curated to spruce up the primetime entertainment content and cater to the evolving tastes of audience. The disruptive format entails contestants rendering musical numbers and competing on the grand stage in pairs.   

    The journey of Singing Stars to unearth the hidden gems of Tamil Nadu began earlier this year and 14 pairs were handpicked by a team of qualified professionals from across age categories ranging from 8 to 60. The channel is available in all leading cable networks and on all DTH platforms – Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO 1555), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808) and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553).

  • COLORS Tamil announces the launch of Singing Stars, ropes in celebrated Music Director Santhosh Narayanan as judge

    COLORS Tamil announces the launch of Singing Stars, ropes in celebrated Music Director Santhosh Narayanan as judge

    MUMBAI: In continuation to establishing the beginning of a new era of content for the Tamil speaking audience, COLORS Tamil is all set to celebrate its first anniversary milestone with the launch of an innovative singing reality show, called ‘Singing Stars’. A show that focuses on the ‘strength of a relationship’, will feature unique duos come together and give enthralling performances in unison. The show is set to premiere on 16th March, Singing Stars will air every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 PM only on COLORS Tamil.

    Singing Stars is a unique music reality show that is set to take the Tamil television space by storm with never-before seen format, curated to spruce up the primetime entertainment content and cater to the evolving tastes of audience. The disruptive format entails contestants rendering musical numbers and competing on the grand stage in pairs.  The duo will be adjudged by an eminent panel of judges basis their rendering of musical compositions, style of singing and the harmony between duo.

    “Within the inaugural year, COLORS Tamil has built a strong bond with our viewers. Over the course of the last one year we have provided variety, quality and immersive programming that managed to strike a chord with the viewers,” said Mr. Anup Chandrasekharan, Business Head of COLORS Tamil. “Singing Stars is yet another unique reality show that not only presents one’s singing talent but also conveys the positive aspect of the relationship of the duo. The viewers will experience the significance of high level of emotion, energy, synergy and support through this show.” He added.

    Helmed by a star-studded panel of judges, the show will also mark music director, Santhosh Narayan’s foray into the Tamil television space as a judge along with celebrated Singers Shakthisree Gopalan and Singer Ananthu on the panel.

    Commenting on the show launch, Music Director Santhosh Narayanan said, “I am delighted to be joining hands with COLORS Tamil for a path breaking show like Singing Stars and this is an exciting way to mark my debut in the TV space. Music helps many to channelize energy into creating beautiful things and push boundaries. COLORS Tamil has showcased the same through creating an innovative show like Singing Stars and this is set to pave way for a sea change not only in the television space, but music industry as a whole. The kind of talent we have unearthed in this journey is astounding and the affinity showcased by each pair during their performance is simply soulful.”

    Adding to this, celebrated singer Shakthisree Gopalan said, “The onset of our journey with Singing Stars has indeed been a refreshing experience. We traveled the length and breadth of the state in search of these hidden gems. The extent to which they sing in harmony is amazing. Singing Stars will give music reality show a new face and is sure to entertain the audience. I am excited and pumped up for an enticing musical journey with Singing Stars.”

    Popular play back singer Ananthu added to this by saying, “I am very happy to be part of COLORS Tamil’s latest offering to the viewers. Singing Stars is a format that will transform music reality space and bring to limelight some remarkable talents. I have been waiting for a show that will challenge young singers so that they achieve their true potential. Singing Stars with its innovative format will definitely provide a platform for aspiring singers to achieve their dreams.”

    The journey of Singing Stars to unearth the hidden gems of Tamil Nadu began earlier this year and 14 pairs were handpicked by a team of qualified professionals from across age categories ranging between 08 to 60 The show is set to be spread across 12 weeks and telecast over the primetime slot of 8:00 PM to 09:30 PM. Catch this unique and scintillating show only on COLORS Tamil starting this 16th March 2019. The channel is available in all leading cable networks and on all DTH platforms – Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO 1555), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808) and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553).

  • TRAI tariff order’s impact on advertising expenditure on regional channels

    TRAI tariff order’s impact on advertising expenditure on regional channels

    MUMBAI: While TV still remains the primary avenue for major brands to break their bank on advertising expenditure (adex), digital is slowly but surely capturing a bigger slice of that pie. According to the FICCI KPMG 2018 report, adex on Hindi GECs saw a decline of nine per cent in FY18 while regional channels witnessed an increase of 5.4 per cent. The new tariff order is likely to ensure that trend continues in FY19 as well, industry experts feel.

    Carat India SVP Mayank Bhatnagar said that new tariff regime will not impact the adex on an immediate basis but depending on the viewership patterns, advertising deals or strategy would be recalibrated by brand managers. Likewise, Enterr10 Fakt Marathi MD Shirish Pattanshetty was of the opinion that overall advertising spends are likely to grow this year with general elections, IPL and the cricket World Cup. He stated that the regional language market is likely to grow in double digits.

    As per industry reports, ad spends grew 17-18 per cent on FTA channels in 2018 as compared to 10 per cent in 2017, the lowest in five years. TV is expected to be the lead medium as far as reach is concerned for the next three years, with the FMCG category being the highest contributor when it comes to TV ad spends.

    Dishum Broadcasting COO Partha Dey believes that the consumption pattern of genres won’t change but the new regulatory framework could compel some viewers to opt for free or cheaper channels.

    Stratagem Media founder director Sundeep Nagpal, however, contradicted Dey by stating that this trend had nothing to do with the new tariff order. 

    “The new tariff order would, in a way, be less detrimental for regional channels than for national channels,” he explained. 

    HBC founder Harish Bijoor felt that the decline in the adex will be greater for regional channels post the implementation of the new tariff norms.

    Now that over the top (OTT) platforms have already entered the race, the industry predicts that both TV and OTT will work together in the long run. Ad spends on TV and digital stand at 45 per cent and 15 per cent respectively and the latter is expected to take bigger strides in the near future. Total ad pie for TV and OTT will rise from the current 60 per cent to 80 per cent in the next three to four years.

    The CEO of a major production house pointed out that ad spends on digital media have been growing upwards of 30 per cent in the last five years and that trend is set to continue.

    “Having said so, the traditional media including TV will also continue to grow making India the most distinct big market in the world,” he said.

    “I have been hearing the regional content conversation for the last eight years. There is every proof that the regional market is critical, fast-growing and is getting more and more localised.  The power of regional will only go up,” he highlighted. 

    According to him, this is not a new trend as it is opening up dramatically in the OTT space as well. 

    “Each language will gain maturity from the point of view of revenue catchment because along with creating value, you also need a strategy to capture value,” he added.

    With DPOs trying hard to migrate subscribers to the new system, TRAI has given customers time till 31 March 2019 to make their new channel selections. 

    Even the BARC ratings have not been released to the public till there is some stability in viewership. 

    While the industry remains divided on the impact of the tariff order on adex, a clearer picture will emerge once the dust settles.

  • TRAI tariff order’s impact on regional channels and ad rates

    TRAI tariff order’s impact on regional channels and ad rates

    MUMBAI: India’s regional broadcast sector has taken off in the last few years. With more investment pouring in, the quality of content and production has risen up a notch. While the regional language market has a lot going for it at the moment, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) new tariff order seems to have the potential to upset the apple cart. Industry experts believe that paid regional channels are likely to experience a dip in viewership compared to FTA channels with the implementation of the new framework.

    According to BARC India data, regional language viewership has witnessed a massive spike over the last two years. Bhojpuri saw a 134 per cent increase, followed by 125 per cent for Assamese, 89 per cent for Oriya, 81 per cent for Gujarati, 68 per cent for Marathi, 55 per cent for Bengali, 52 per cent for Kannada, 34 per cent for Punjabi, 23 per cent for Hindi, 18 per cent for Telugu and 17 per cent for Tamil. 

    Regional channels of late have been the bastions of growth not only in terms of viewership but also advertising revenue. Not only regional GECs, but regional movies, music and news have experienced growth in terms of ad volumes. However, niche and paid regional channels could be in for a bumpy ride going forward.

    Highlighting the impact of the new regime on these regional channels, Dishum Broadcasting COO Partha Dey said that if the carriage deals are in place with distribution platform operators (DPOs), viewership of regional FTA channels will not be affected. 

    “However, this may not hold true for long tail regional pay channels. Nevertheless, we may notice slight turbulence till the time TRAI guidelines are fully implemented,” he pointed out.

    Stratagem Media founder director Sundeep Nagpal voiced a similar view. Nagpal explained that the new tariff order is likely to adversely impact the penetration of regional channels in genres like music and movies as well as secondary GECs. However, the primary GECs or news channels that are not FTA may not be affected.

    Enterr10 Fakt Marathi MD Shirish Pattanshetty felt that the viewership in the regional cluster is likely to grow. He mentioned that multi system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) that are not educating the customers, and are trying to put together different packs by adding regional channels in it, which is against the new regime. 

    “If they are FTA and are included as part of the base pack, they are bound to grow so the essence of distribution and content will play a good game, but for the pay, they are bound to take a haircut. The customer should be given a choice of what he wants to pick and pay and then educate him on costing and give him options,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, Carat India SVP Mayank Bhatnagar said that the overall viewership and reach will get impacted but broadcasters will play it safe by having their most stable channels in the mix to minimise the risk. According to him, there is also merit to increase focus on digital to mitigate the risk.

    With the new regime, there will be a re-estimation of brand and content value, said HBC founder Harish Bijoor. According to him, consumers will contemplate the value of these channels. If two channels are regionally similar, they are likely to pick one.

    “So, a fair number of people have to take the decision about the entertainment repertoire as it need not include all these channels.” 

    The television industry in India has grown from Rs 58,800 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 66, 0007 crore in 2017-18 as per FICCI-EY Report 2018, thereby registering a growth of 12.24 per cent. The number of SD pay TV channels also saw a rise in the number from 147 in 2010 to 213 in 2018. 

    Dey and Pattanshetty believe that the reach of regional FTA channels is bound to grow subsequently leading to an increase in ad rates, with regional segment advertising rates likely to go up in all regional language markets.

    Nagpal, on the other hand, said that it wouldn’t be significant in the short run. However, it could lead to an increase of up to 25 per cent in some cases, if there’s a shakeup. 

    According to Bhatnagar, this will give an opportunity to the planners to rationalise the rates across channels.

    “Only those channels will be able to hold rates which add significant value and improve the effectiveness of the campaigns. Long tail channels will get impacted the most,” he highlighted.

    Hindi remains the preferred language of consumption for TV audiences in India, but growth is led by regional content. Rural India, at 99 million TV homes is 17 per cent higher than urban India but is only 52 per cent penetrated.

    When asked whether consumers from the rural areas would be willing to pay for the regional channels, Dey said that as per TRAI mandate of 100 FTA channels in base pack a rural or price-conscious consumer will first choose all FTA channels of the region and then go for top two or three regional pay channels and may forgo rest of regional pay channels, as FTA will suffice their consumption. 

    Similarly, Nagpal said, “Relatively speaking, rural penetration is likely to suffer more than the urban penetration, where the monthly subscription packages that will be developed by LCOs and MSOs, are likely to be even more attractive.” 

    Pattanshetty said that the rural audience might buy some of these channels but not all them. They will eliminate the ones that are not relevant to them. Furthermore, according to Bhatnagar, subscription rate will differ from region to region, given varied distribution and broadcast landscapes. Bijoor added that these rural homes are restricted as there is just one person in the whole family to decide as to which channel to watch and hence there will be a major impact on that front too.

    Stakeholders of the broadcast sector are hoping for some clear trends to emerge from the implementation of the new tariff order. While its no longer business as usual for most broadcasters, they will have to pay special focus to the developments in the regional language markets after the dust settles in the next few months.

  • Zee Kannada launches Gattimela – a story on women empowerment

    Zee Kannada launches Gattimela – a story on women empowerment

    MUMBAI: Known for its compelling content creation, Zee Kannada has become every Kannadiga household’s hub of entertainment. In-line with Zee Kannada’s recently launched brand proposition Bayasid'dhaBāgiluTegiyōṇa, translating to ‘open door to possibilities’, the channel launches its latest fiction show, Gattimela. The story narrates the struggle of amighty woman who is encounteredwith hurdles,hailing from a lower middle-class family, with the courage to dream big of witnessing her 4-daughters be a part of a sacrament alliance. Tune-in to watch to be empowered with the tale of Gattimelastarting 11th March at 8:00 PM only on Zee Kannada and Zee Kannada HD.

    The plot revolves around exploringthestrength of women. The tale of Gattimela is established with a focus on a conflict between VedanthVasishta, a successful business man who detests women and relationships,and Amulya, who isoutspoken yet a humble woman who fights against the conventional norms of the society.Parimala, mother of Amulya, Aarati, Adithi, and Anjali,constantly grieves about her inability of getting her daughters married and therefore, has set-up a small catering business which supplies snacks and sweets to social events in order to sustain their livelihood. How the serial progresses with the turn of events forms the crux of the story. 

    Parimala, enacted by Sudha Narasimha Raju, plays a predominate character in the serial. Her comeback to the small screen is definite to mark a strong significance in the minds of our viewers. While Rakshit, popular for his roles in the television industry, returns as VedanthVasishta. Gattimela’sstar-studded cast has begun creating a sensation amongst Zee Kannada audiences. 

    Commenting on the launch, the spokesperson of the channel said, “We, as a channel,stand true to women empowerment and believe that womenhave the strength to succeed through any situation. Zee Kannada inspires women to push their boundaries to achieve the extraordinary, and the tale of Gattimelaportrays the similar message for its ardent viewers. Additionally, the new serial is a genuine family entertainer due the hype created with the release of its promos, by continuing to cater to the audiences’ unique entertainment needs.”
     

  • Star Pravah to launch new show ‘Molkarin Bai’

    Star Pravah to launch new show ‘Molkarin Bai’

    MUMBAI: A new show titled Molkarin Bai is all set to launch on Star Pravah, starting 8 March from 6.30 pm. 
    This show is a heartwarming story that takes a peep into the life of housemaids and their relationship with the owners of the house (Malkein).

    Just like all of us, every member of this society has a different story. They have their own sorrows, their celebrations and their dreams. While each of their journeys is unique, the one thing that is common is a deep sense of belonging and togetherness for the community. The show revolves around the day-to-day situations in every household that the audience can absolutely relate to.

    The star cast of 'Molkarin Bai' has some big names from the industry. Veteran actress Usha Nadkarni, actresses Bhargavi Chirmuley, Sarika Nilatkar, Supriya Pathare,  Ashwini Kasar, Gautami Soham will be playing prominent roles in the show. 

  • SITI Networks Operating EBITDA leaps 1.9x YoY to 930 Mn

    SITI Networks Operating EBITDA leaps 1.9x YoY to 930 Mn

    MUMBAI: SITI Networks Limited, an Essel Group company, with 55Mn+ consumers and presence across 580+ locations in India, has released its Consolidated Unaudited Financial Results for Q3FY19, continuing its consistent growth across various parameters.

    On the back of disciplined execution, SITI reported growth in its Operating EBITDA by 1.4x QoQ and 1.9x YoY. SITI Operating EBITDA Margin also expanded significantly by 975 bps YoY to 24.5 per cent in Q3FY19. This was also supported by flattish operating expenses on a YoY basis and effecting a reduction of 7 per cent QoQ.

    Subscription revenue spiked 21.4 per cent YoY to Rs. 2,571 Mn in Q3FY19, aided by the steady growth in Digital Subscription. 9M subscription revenue grew even faster at 24 per cent, and was at INR 7,268 mn.

    Blended ARPU increased substantially by 19 per cent YoY. This ARPU improvement was broad based across phases, with SITI’s ubiquitous presence in Phase 3 and 4 showing 23 per cent and 35 per cent growth respectively. SNL also ensured subscription collection efficiency of 94 per cent in Q3FY19.

    In the quarter ending December 2018, SITI ended with an Active Subscriber base at 11.55 Mn. SITI added 36,000 HD customers and currently has an active HD subscriber base of 4.24 lakhs.

    Mr. Rajesh Sethi, on implementation of Tariff Order through utilization of technology and digital mediums, explained SITIs initiatives:

    “We made extensive preparations for a considered migration to the new tariff order regime with a focus on customer choice, business associate exigency and regulatory compliance. The functionality of our Subscriber Management System was significantly enhanced to allow for seamless transition.

    SITI undertook widespread usage of digital mediums, launching a customer self-care portal & “MySiti” Android App for the end consumer to enable freedom of choice, online payment and other functionalities direct to the customer; The call center capacity was upgraded to ensure a prompt response for all customers and business associates; SITI also established multilingual call centers across the country to ensure dialectal friendly customer communication and handholding.

     SITI also launched a new Campaign – “Aap ka Manoranjan, Aap ki Marzi” on TV Screen, Web and Social Media to educate customers. SITI is providing multiple bespoke suggestive packs, a-la-carte and broadcaster bouquets to the end consumer providing wholesome entertainment to all members of the family across various geographies, in compliance with the new regulatory regime. ”

    While commenting on the results, Mr. Rajesh Sethi of SITI Networks Limited mentioned: “SITI Networks continued its strong growth trajectory and grew its 9M Subscription revenue by 24 per cent YoY. This coupled with leveraging inherent operational synergies allowed us to deliver stupendous 9M Operating EBITDA at INR2,161 mn, a growth of 118 per cent YoY. Simultaneously, a focus on prudence and lean operations expanded Operating EBITDA margins 1.9x to 20 per cent.”

  • Sun TV board declares third interim dividend of 50 percent

    Sun TV board declares third interim dividend of 50 percent

    BENGALURU: The board of directors of the Sun TV Network (Sun TV) has declared a 50 percent dividend (dividend of Rs 2.50) per equity share of face value Rs 5 each for the quarter ended 31 December 2019 (Q3 2019, quarter, period under review). This is the third interim dividend disbursed by the company this fiscal.

    The South Indian television and radio broadcaster behemoth reported total comprehensive income of Rs 351.39 crore (38.9 percent of operating revenue for the quarter, which was 31.6 percent y-o-y higher as compared to Rs 267.03 crore (39.1 percent of operating revenue) for the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Sun TV reported 32.4 percent y-o-y increase in operating revenue for Q3 2019 at Rs 904.45 crore as compared to Rs 683.28 crore in Q3 2018. Total Income for the period under review at Rs 956.04 crore was 34.2 percent more y-o-y as compared to Rs 712.39 crore in Q3 2018. Sun TV says in a press release that its subscription revenue has grown by 24 percent y-o-y to Rs 349.60 crore.

    Operating profit (EBITDA) for Q3 2019 at Rs 667.20 (73.8 percent of operating revenue) increased 35.6 percent y-o-y as compared to Rs 492.04 crore (72 percent of operating revenue) in Q3 2018. Profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter at Rs 351.33 crore (38.8 percent of operating revenue) was 31.6 percent higher y-o-y than Rs 266.97 crore (39.1 percent of operating revenue).

    Sun TV reported 35.4 percent y-o-y increase in total expenditure in Q3 2019 at Rs 414.04 crore from Rs 305.76 crore in Q3 2018. Operating expenses  in Q3 2019 increased 51.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 122.77 crore from Rs 81.05 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Employee benefits expense in Q3 2019 declined 0.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 71.71 crore from Rs 72.20 crore in Q3 2018.

    Finance costs increased more than elevenfold y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 0.71 crore from Rs 0.06 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Other expenses increase 12.6 percent y-o-y in Q3 2019 to Rs 42.77 crore from Rs 37.99 crore in Q3 2018.

  • Experience A spellbinding journey of riveting stories on Colors Bangla’s ‘TELEPLEX’

    Experience A spellbinding journey of riveting stories on Colors Bangla’s ‘TELEPLEX’

    MUMBAI: Storytelling is an art and only movies depict such compelling stories in the most vivid format. While some stories are lost in the sands of time, movies continue to keep these stories alive. Bridging the gap between classic stories and the modern-day viewer, COLORS Bangla presents ‘TELEPLEX’, a series of more than 80 masterpieces directed by pioneers of Bengali and Hindi movies. Directed by prominent names like Anjan Dutta, Kaushik Ganguly, Prabhat Ray, Sandip Ray, late Debangshu Sengupta, late Jishu Dasgupta and many more, Teleplex will showcase these cult-defining stories, from Monday to Friday at 10 pm starting February 11 only on COLORS Bangla.

    Riding high on nostalgia, the show will cater to complete family audience featuring stories from multiple genres including – romantic, action, comedy, thriller and drama, directed by some of the biggest names in the industry and starring award-winning ensemble cast. Some of the popular stories include Collage, Ulka, Chaya Chobi, Rudra Sen-er Dairy, Babar Christmas, Ekdeen Darjeeling, Anuccharito, Achena Aponjon.

    Commenting on the launch Rahul Chakravarti – Business Head, COLORS Bangla and Odia, said, “At COLORS Bangla, we have always aimed at challenging conventions and reinvigorating the format of content consumption for the viewers. Looking at today’s evolved audiences we thought that these classic stories with pathbreaking subjects will entertain the viewers immensely. Featuring celebrated and National award-winning director Srijit Mukherjee, who introduces these captivating stories, and talks about the finer nuances behind each masterpiece, Teleplex promises to enrich the viewing experience for our audience.”

    Touted as one of the leading modern-day story tellers, National award winner, Srijit Mukherjee gets audience closer to these stories that were way ahead of their time. “Being a fan and aficionado of movies, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Teleplex. Conversing on my favorite topic, exploring unknown facets of prodigious stories and engaging with other industry stalwarts, this show has the complete recipe of entertainment for a movie buff. The stories were directed and produced with a futuristic perspective and I’m sure that the modern audience will relate to it.”, he added.

    Reaching out to viewers at multiple touchpoint including Outdoor, Print, On-Air and Digital, Colors Bangla dialed up the marketing efforts for promotions of the new show.