ITV

Category: Regional

  • Attorney General okays Sun TV security clearance; stock up 8%

    Attorney General okays Sun TV security clearance; stock up 8%

    MUMBAI: Kalanithi Maran can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now. This after the Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi has asked the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to give security clearance to the 33 channels of Sun TV Network.

     

    After the I&B Ministry sought his opinion on the matter, Rohatgi said that denial of security clearance to Sun TV by MHA was wrong.

     

    It can be noted that the Home Ministry had denied the proposal to grant security clearance to the network on grounds that its promoter – Kalanithi Maran – was being investigated for criminal cases by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

     

    As is known, the CBI had alleged Dayanidhi Maran of misusing his office as Union Telecom Minister to engineer the sale of Aircel to Malaysia’s Maxis Group in 2006. Maran was accused of corruption and illegal gratification worth more than Rs 700 crore, which allegedly was invested in a media company that is part of the Sun Group, owned by Dayanidhi Maran’s brother Kalanithi Maran.

     

    It can be noted that in April, the ED had issued an order to both the Maran brothers to attach properties and assets worth Rs 742.58 crore belonging to them.

     

    Kalanithi Maran in his argument had said that while most TV companies have criminal cases pending against them or against their directors or promoters, only his company was singled out and security clearance refused.

     

    Earlier this week the MHA had said that it had no plans to reply to the letter written by Maran where he had said that his company was never involved in any anti-national or criminal activity and that there was no justification for refusal of the clearance to his television channels.

     

    Buoyed by the reports of this development, the Sun TV stock on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) shot up by 7.86 per cent at the end of the day’s trade on Friday. The stock, which opened at Rs 309.25 touched an intra-day high of Rs 342.30 and closed at Rs 333.55 at the end of the day’s trade.

  • Sun TV Network writes to Home Minister to reconsider security clearance

    Sun TV Network writes to Home Minister to reconsider security clearance

    NEW DELHI: Kalanithi Maran owned Sun TV Network Limited (Sun TV) has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh to reconsider his Ministry’s refusal of security clearance to the network, even as it claims that it has still not received any official note from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

     

    An official of the I&B Ministry had told Indiantelevision.com last week that it was the responsibility of that Ministry and not the Home Ministry to inform Sun TV.

     

    A Sun TV spokesperson said that any action that the network may want to take would be based on the text of the communication from the I&B Ministry.

     

    The Home Ministry is said to have taken this decision in the backdrop of the three pending criminal cases being looked into by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), against Maran and his brother and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran.

     

    Home Ministry sources denied that the decision was based on political considerations.

     

    The network has urged the Home Minister to differentiate between security clearance on grounds of national security and cases linked to financial matters, which are still pending and not proven. It has also raised issues relating to freedom of the media.

     

    Even as the stock market had showed an increase for Sun TV shares late last week when reports appeared about the Home Ministry agreeing to reconsider its decision following a letter by I&B Minister Arun Jaitley, it is learnt that senior officials of the Home Ministry have so far failed to fix a meeting with officials of the Law Ministry in this regard.

     

    It was learnt that some Home Ministry officials were planning to discuss the issue with the Law Ministry and some legal experts and some junior officials had in fact held informal discussions.

     

    It is expected that Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi may be consulted on the issue.   

     

    The I&B official had also confirmed that this will affect all 33 television channels of the Network. This may mean cancellation of the broadcasting license. However, the Ministry official said that no decision would be taken in haste.

     

    Sun TV had applied to the I&B for renewing its broadcasting license for 10 years, which also entails getting the required security clearance from the Home Ministry.

      

    Earlier, in April, Jaitley had written to Rajnath Singh to reconsider the denial of security clearance to 40 FM radio stations run by the Sun Network.

     

    Observers in Chennai said the Madras High Court order in September last year commented adversely against the I&B Ministry for cancelling the multi system operator (MSO) license to Sun TV Network’s subsidiary Kal Cables. The observation had come in a case relating to denial of security clearance as the Maran brothers were facing criminal cases.

  • Asianet to adapt Brit quiz show ‘Sell me the Answer’

    Asianet to adapt Brit quiz show ‘Sell me the Answer’

    MUMBAI: Asianet is all set to launch a new quiz based show titled Sell Me The Answer, a first of its kind television game show format in Malayalam television.

     

    The show, which will go on air from 22 June, is scheduled to air from Monday to Thursday from 8 – 9 pm.

     

    Even though the quiz show concept is new to the Malayalam audience, it is inspired by the original British show with the same name.

     

    Sell Me The Answer on Asianet will test the contestant’s knowledge more than their brain power. The quiz based show is quite entertaining and demands the contestant to utilize both their IQ and EQ.  The show will give an opportunity to both contestants and traders to win the prize money, with their knowledge as well as confidence.

     

    Prior to this, Sell Me The Answer has been adapted in Bengali called Jabab Kinte Chai on Sananda TV.

     

    As per the format of the show, there will be 10 questions, 10 answers and one can answer these questions with or without the help of traders.

     

    Earlier, Asianet has opened up the registration process for participation in this quiz show till 22 May, 2015. The channel has roped in popular Malayalam actor Mukesh as the quiz master to conduct the show. The actor already hosts a comedy show on Asianet titled Badhai Bunglow.

  • Zee Bangla to launch new season of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’

    Zee Bangla to launch new season of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’

    MUMBAI: Zee Bangla is all set to launch a new season of the musical show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

     

    The format of the show will be different this time. Three distinct genre of music will be showcased namely classical/semi-classical; folk and light music. Variety of music forms like Jhumur and Kirtan, etc will also be highlighted through the participants, giving the audience flavours of different musical genre and style in a new avatar.

     

    This season, there is no age bar, thus, providing a wider window for all aspiring musical talents. This season, the panel of judges includes Monali Thakur, Shantanu Moitra and Shubha Mudgal.

     

    Musical icons like Asha Bhonsle, Sonu Nigam, Kumar Sanu amongst others have graced the show in the past.

     

    Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will launch on 8 June and will be aired from Monday to Wednesday at 10 pm.

  • Sun TV denies receiving official memo from MHA; shares crash on bourses

    Sun TV denies receiving official memo from MHA; shares crash on bourses

    NEW DELHI: Kalanithi Maran owned Sun TV Network Limited (Sun TV) today said that it had not received any information from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) or the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) about rejection of security clearance to its television channels.

     

    Shares of Sun TV crashed over 25 per cent on Monday, 8 June, 2015, as compared to the previous closing price on Friday, amid reports that the network’s 33 television channels may be taken off air by the MHA over security clearance.

     

    When contacted by Indiantelevision.com, a Sun TV spokesperson declined to comment on the rejection of security clearance as the network was still waiting for an official report.

     

    Reacting to the reports, Sun TV clarified on the bourses stating, “We wish to state that no communication has been received by the Company in this regard from any Ministry and all our Channels continue to be on air.”

     

    On the other hand, an MIB official confirmed to this website that the Home Ministry had indeed denied security clearance to Sun TV Network as a whole and that the decision would be conveyed to the network by the MIB and not the MHA.

     

    The MIB official also confirmed that this will affect all 33 television channels of the Kalanithi Maran-promoted Sun TV Network. This may mean cancellation of the broadcasting licence. However, the Ministry official said that no decision would be taken in haste.

     

    Sun TV had applied to the MIB for renewing its broadcasting licence for 10 years, which also entails getting the required security clearance from the Home Ministry. 

     

    The Home Ministry is said to have taken this decision in the backdrop of the three pending criminal cases being looked into by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), against Maran and his brother and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran.

     

    Home Ministry sources denied that the decision was based on political considerations.

     

    Sun TV Network may approach the courts to get interim relief. However, no reply has been received from the Home Ministry so far.

     

    This is the second big blow for the Maran led company this year. It may be recalled that earlier in April, MIB minister Arun Jaitley had written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh to reconsider the denial of security clearance to 40 FM radio stations run by the Sun Network. 

     

    Sun TV shares (face value of Rs 5 each) opened lower today on the BSE at Rs 320.75 each as compared to the closing price of Rs 356.35 each and opened on the NSE today at Rs 320.80 each as compared to the closing rate of Rs 356.40 each. At the close of trading today, Sun TV shares closed at Rs 279.60 (down 76.75, -21.54 per cent) on the BSE and at Rs 278.65 (down Rs 77.75, -21.83 per cent) on the NSE. 

     

    On the BSE, Monday’s Low was Rs 258, whereas the High was recorded at Rs 320.75. On the NSE, Sun TV’s Low stood at Rs 257.45, where the scrip touched a High of Rs 320.80. The stock price breached the previous 52 week low on both the BSE and the NSE, also breached the lower circuit price of Rs 302.90 on both the bourses.

     

    The Sun TV Network is one of India’s largest media groups whose TV channels reach more than 95 million households across the country.

  • Zee Kannada to premiere first episode of ‘Gruhalakshmi’ online

    Zee Kannada to premiere first episode of ‘Gruhalakshmi’ online

    MUMBAI: In a first of sorts, Zee Kannada will premiere the first episode of its new show Gruhalakshmi on the digital platform for its audience.

     

    On 8 June at 4.30 pm, Zee Kannada will showcase the first episode of Gruhalakshmi on its website (www.zeekannadatv.com), which is two hours prior to the telecast of the show on the channel. Zee Kannada will air Gruhalakshmi from Monday – Saturday at 6.30 pm.

     

    Gruhalakshmi revolves around Lakshmi – a simple girl – who finished her degree from a small town and has entered the rich household of Bangalore as Raghav’s wife, a construction company owner. After being brought up in a rural middle class background, educated in a Kannada medium school, she is constantly trying to adjust and adapt to her husband’s elite class, her children’s English medium education, their love of English movies, entertainment, burgers and pizzas. She has enrolled herself in cooking, driving, spoken English classes to please her family. All is well until Lakshmi is diagnosed with blood cancer. The story takes a surprise in every step taken by Lakshmi.

     

    Sanathini essays the role of Lakshmi. The show is produced and directed by Krishna, who is a cinematographer and director in the Kannada film industry. Selvam has written the story and screenplay.

     

    For the first time in south Indian TV industry, the serial will be completely shot in Red Epic camera.

  • 7UP to launch reality show on Udaya TV

    7UP to launch reality show on Udaya TV

    MUMBAI: Taking a step towards advertiser funded programming (AFP), PepsiCo India’s brand 7UP is all set to launch a six-week reality show titled 7UP UPstarters, which will feature original talent from South India.

     

    Featuring budding dancers, singers and actors, the first episode of 7UP UPstarters will premiere on 7 June on Udaya TV at 5.30 pm.

     

    The contest saw huge participation from aspiring singers, dancers and actors during the on-ground auditions across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and through a unique wild-card system on Facebook.

     

    With talent including brake-dancers, classical singers, beat-boxers and acting enthusiasts among others, seven teams will fight to finish through a series of week-on-week performances. The winning 7-member team will win a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh.

     

    The grand-finale of the six-part series will be judged by actors and 7UP brand ambassadors Dhanush and Puneeth Rajkumar.

     

    PepsiCo India senior director marketing, social beverages Ruchira Jaitly said, “7UP UPstarters is not just another reality show but a search for the next generation of original, authentic talent from Karnataka. The entire journey from audition to the finale has been packaged into six action-packed episodes to bring viewers closer to the actual experience of each contestant.”

  • Zee Tamil acquires ‘DNA’ format rights from Bomanbridge Media

    Zee Tamil acquires ‘DNA’ format rights from Bomanbridge Media

    MUMBAI: In a first for the channel, Zee Tamil has licensed the format of a show called DNA from the Singapore-based distribution and production agency, Bomanbridge Media.

     

    The channel will produce 26 episodes of the show in Tamil. The format has previously been produced in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Indonesia.

     

    Additionally, Bomanbridge Media has also inked a format deal with Vietnam’s Lasta Multimedia, which has licensed Beauty Academy created by A2G Creations. The format of Beauty Academy was previously sold in China on Dragon TV, and in Brazil on Globo TV.

     

    “The ultimate test for an international TV format is in its ability to travel to distant lands, take on local flavours without losing its fundamental characteristics. We’re delighted that TV networks in South Asia are increasingly looking to us to bring them these winning formulas for non-fiction programming,” said Bomanbridge South Asia office head Arpit Agarwal.

     

    “Bomanbridge Media has licensed other successful formats in the region such as NHK’s Dr. What and Miss Country Girl to China and are pleased to add the popular formats, Beauty Academy and DNA to the list. We look forward to working closely with Zee and Lasta Multimedia to help them create winning versions of these shows,” said Bomanbridge Media CEO Sonia Fleck.

     

    “We bring hot formats to the region, as Asian broadcasters continue to have an appetite for the genre,” Fleck added.

  • FY-2015: Sun TV revenue sees 7% growth at Rs 2243 crore

    FY-2015: Sun TV revenue sees 7% growth at Rs 2243 crore

    BENGALURU: Sun TV Network Limited reported seven per cent growth in standalone revenue (Total income from operations or TIO) in FY-2015 (year ended 31 March, 2015, current year) at Rs 2243.62 crore as compared to the Rs 2096.78 crore in FY-2014. 

     

    TIO in Q4-2015 at Rs 548.58 crore grew 5.5 per cent as compared to the Rs 520.18 crore y-o-y and was 0.7 per cent lower than the Rs 552.44 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    All figures in this report are standalone.

     

    The company reported 2.8 per cent growth in profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 737.23 crore (32.9 per cent of TIO) in FY-2015 as compared to the Rs 716.96 crore (34.2 per cent of TIO) in FY-2014. PAT in Q4-2015 at Rs 202.99 crore (37 per cent of TIO) was 2.7 per cent more than the Rs 197.57 crore (38 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 but was 5.2 per cent lower than the Rs 214.13 crore (38.8 per cent of TIO) in the previous quarter.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Sun TV:

     

    Sun TV’s Total Expenditure (TE) in FY-2015 at Rs 1217.25 crore (54.3 per cent of TIO) was 11.8 per cent more than the Rs 1088.41 crore (51.9 per cent of TIO). TE in Q4-2015 at Rs 263.74 crore (48.1 per cent of TIO) was 13.4 per cent more than the Rs 232.62 crore (44.7 per cent of TIO) and was 5.5 per cent more than the Rs 250.05 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    The company reported 5.8 per cent higher employee benefit expense (EBE) in FY-2015 at Rs 203.75 crore (9.1 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 192.53 crore (9.2 per cent of TIO) in FY-2014. EBE in Q4-2015 at Rs 52.16 crore (9.5 per cent of TIO) was three per cent more than the Rs 50.63 crore (9.7 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 but was 6.3 per cent lower than the Rs 55.69 crore (10.1 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2015.

     

    Other Expenditure in FY-2015 at Rs 171.4 crore (7.6 per cent of TIO) was 1.1 per cent lower than the Rs 173.38 crore (8.3 per cent of TIO) in FY-2014. Other Expenditure in Q4-2015 at Rs 28.26 crore (5.2 per cent of TIO) was 8.1 per cent more than the Rs 26.15 crore (five per cent of TIO) in Q4-2014 and was 4.9 per cent more than the Rs 26.93 crore (4.9 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2015.

     

    Sun TV’s standalone EBIDTA in FY-2015 at Rs 1614.2 crore (71.9 per cent margin) was 10.4 per cent more than the Rs 1461.71 crore (69.7 per cent margin) in FY-2014. Standalone EBIDTA in Q4-2015 at Rs 423.26 crore (77.2 per cent margin) was 5.8 per cent more than the Rs 399.89 crore (76.8 per cent margin) and was 1.1 per cent lower than the Rs 427.8 crore (77.4 per cent margin) in Q3-2015.

     

    Until now, the company has paid out three interim dividends for FY-2015 totalling 225 per cent or Rs 11.25 per equity share of face value of Rs 5 each as compared to dividends totalling 190 per cent or Rs 9.50 per equity share in FY-2014.

     

    Sun TV share price declined today (29 May) at the closing bell. On the NSE, the share closed at Rs 379.20, down Rs 7.85 (2.03 per cent) from its previous close of Rs 387.05, despite a higher opening of Rs 387.55 in the morning. Today’s Low/High for the script on the NSE was Rs 370.85/Rs 388.80 with a volume of 421126. Overall, the NSE Nifty closed up at 8433.65, up 114.65 points (+1.38 per cent).

     

    On the BSE, the stock closed at Rs 378.70, down Rs 7.50 (1.90 per cent) from its previous close of Rs 386.20 and higher opening of Rs 387.20. Today’s Low/High for the stock on the BSE was Rs 374/Rs 389.45 with a volume of 104288. The BSE Sensex closed at 27824.44, up 321.71 (+1.17 per cent).

  • Zee Marathi to premiere National Award winning children’s film ‘Elizabeth Ekadashi’

    Zee Marathi to premiere National Award winning children’s film ‘Elizabeth Ekadashi’

    MUMBAI: Zee Marathi is all set to premiere the National-Award winning Best Children’s Film Elizabeth Ekadashi.

     

    The channel will air the movie on 31 May at 7 pm.

     

    Paresh Mokashi, who also won accolades for his Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory, has directed Elizabeth Ekadashi, which is a gripping emotional tale of three children and a bicycle.

     

    Elizabeth Ekadashi unfolds the poignant but entertaining story of two young siblings – Dnyanesh and Mukta. Dnyanesh is a very bright kid who supports his mother after the death of his father. The family that gets into an unexpected problem and the movie captures the efforts the two children take to pay off their mother’s debts and also save Elizabeth, the cycle gifted to Dnyanesh by his late father, which will be sold by their mother to pay off their debts. 

     

    The premiere of the movie is woven around the thought ‘Natapunhabalpanashi,’ which encourages viewers to relive their childhood. The on-air promotions of the movie have already been carrying this thought and have brought out the various facets of childhood in the promo.  The off-air campaign too has focused on carrying this thought forward.

     

    Using the TV and outdoor medium extensively to promote the premiere of the movie, Zee Marathi’s special feature for the off air campaign has been the unique social media promotions that have been carried out. Dubsmash videos of dialogues from the movie have been used with leads from the Zee Marathi shows dubbing the dialogues and recreating the magic of the scenes from the movies.

     

    Additionally, the hit song ‘Dagad Dagad’ has been reshot with the artists from the fiction show Dil Dosti Duniydari.

     

     

    The music video can be seen here

     

    Additionally, the channel has also used radio extensively in 12 cities across Maharashtra with the creatives hammering the songs and dialogues from the movie.

     

    Zee Marathi business head Deepak Rajadhyakshasaid,“We always try to create value in the movies during World Television Premieres. For Elizabeth too we have shot with the artists from the movie on location in Pandharpur and tried to capture the behind the scenes from the movie. The movie was a landmark for the Marathi movie industry and the kids became instant hit with the viewers. There is a lot of curiosity about them and people want to know more the children and the making of the movie. Hopefully the efforts in presenting the movie with that little extra will be enjoyed by the viewers.”

     

    After premiering Lai Bhaari in January this year starring ReiteshDeshmukh, Elizabeth Ekadashiwill be Zee Marathi’s next big premiere.

     

    Elizabeth Ekadashi stars with ShrirangMahajan, SayaliBhandarkavthekar, PushkarLonarkar, NanditaDhuri and others.