ITV

Category: Regional

  • 9X Jhakaas Music Yatra – Bhima Festival to air on 7 March

    9X Jhakaas Music Yatra – Bhima Festival to air on 7 March

    MUMBAI: 9X Jhakaas, India’s first Marathi music channel from 9X Media presents their viewers with 9X Jhakaas Music Yatra Bhima Festival 2015. Part of 9X Jhakaas Music Yatra -the travelling musical platform, Bhima Festival will be aired on 7th March at 8 pm with a repeat on 8th March at 10 am and 8 pm.

     

    Organised in Kolhapur every year Bhima Festival is known for providing a great platform to artists to showcase their talent. Marathi music fans are enthralled by the performances of well known artists from the Marathi film, television and music industry.

     

    Commenting on the fest, Rohan Rane, VP and Programming Head of 9X Jhakaas said, “9X Jhakaas Music Yatra has been partnering with the Bhima Festival since the past 3 years. Every year we have been receiving very encouraging response and this year we had around 75,000 live audience enjoying the performances put together by 9X Jhakaas. We were overwhelmed by the turnout at the event and also by the positive feedback by the audience to our performance. We hope that the on-air episode will also resonate well with our viewers.”

     

    The 9X Jhakaas Music Yatra Bhima festival 2015 includes performances by popular singers and actors like Mansi Naik, Pooja Sawant, Swapnil joshi, Sonali Kulkarni, Prarthana Behre, Prathmesh Parab among others and comedy by Shreya Bugade, Sagar Karande, and Atul Todankar.

     

    Hosted by Actor Pushkar Kshrotri and Bharat Ganeshpure the show captures a melody of Marathi songs and dance performances. The highlight of the show was the song dedication made by popular singer Aadarsh Shinde to his dad  Anand Shinde by singing his legendary song ‘Navin Popat ha lagla vithu vithu bolayla’. Also this was the very first time that the audiences of Kolhapur were presented with the melodious duet by Swapnil Joshi and Sonali Kulkarni who enthralled the visitors with their songs from the film Mitwa

  • Big Magic set for a week-long Holi celebration

    Big Magic set for a week-long Holi celebration

    MUMBAI: Big Magic Ganga is all set to entertain viewers this Holi weekend. The channel has readied a week-long programming line-up starting from 6 March called Faguaa. This was announced by Ravi Kishan and Bhojpuri actress Shinjini Kulkarni of Panditji Batai Na Byah Kabh Hoi-2 in Mumbai on 4 March.

     

    The channel built on local insights with a deep cultural connect has shows pegged on festivities and devotion, offering entertainment which can be watched by the entire family. In keeping with the same, it will celebrate the festival of Holi with exciting content such as Bhakti Sagar (7.30 am), Holi Dangal (10.30 am), Jogira Sara Ra Ra (4.30 pm), Bhakti Samrat (9 pm), Holi ki Hurdang (10.30 pm) and throughout the day on 5 and 6 March the channel will air Holi Thitholi. 

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network COO Lavneesh Gupta said, “Big Magic Ganga provides pure and clean culturally enriching content for the entire family and that is what has made us connect with the region or migrants across the country understanding their needs of entertainment and reflection of the region. We wish all our viewers and partners a very happy and colourful Holi and look forward to continuing to entertain with our un-matched and locally enriching programming mix.”

  • Viacom18 rebrands ETV franchise to Colors

    Viacom18 rebrands ETV franchise to Colors

    MUMBAI: In a cutthroat competitive world of regional television viewing, what is essential for those in the business is to constantly keep rebranding in order to keep in touch with its existing viewers, while adding new ones. 

     

    In an attempt to do the same, Viacom18 has decided to licence its existing brand name Colors to Prism TV, which runs the five regional general entertainment channels namely: ETV Marathi, ETV Bangla, ETV Oriya, ETV Kannada and ETV Gujarati. As part of this, the channels will not only shed the ETV name, thus donning the Colors identity, but will also see induction of new programming. 

     

    The rebranding of the regional GECs will augment the Colors franchise while facilitating higher resonance for the regional channels vis-a-vis competition.
     

    “The strategic pillar of the success for the network has been sharper segmentation,” said Viacom18 Media group CEO Sudhanshu Vats.

     

    According to Vats, one of the logical pieces in segmentation is looking at geographical, regional and linguistic segmentation, which is what the network plans to do with the rebranding exercise.

     

    Putting forth some statistics, Vats said that 59 per cent of India speaks in regional language and 41 per cent speaks in Hindi. “It is important that we develop our footprints in the regional space as well. As we go forward, I feel that the viewership in regional will only grow upwards,” he said. 

     

    The Hindi entertainment viewership is currently at 44 per cent, comprising about 29 per cent of Hindi general entertainment and 14-15 per cent of Hindi movies, whereas the regional viewership is at about 30 per cent. The third is kids channels with 8-9 per cent. So between them, it constitutes about 85 per cent of viewership in India. “This underlines the importance of regional, which is also growing faster than any other segment,” he informed.  

     

    Vats also feels that as India develops, the pride in regional language will only get strengthened. “The viewership will grow, and when this grows, the ad dollars will follow,” he added.  

     

    Rebranding exercise

     

    The teaser for the rebranding was launched on 3 March. The network plans to undertake the transition of the ETV franchise to Colors in a phase-wise manner. The first to rebrand is ETV Marathi, which will turn to Colors Marathi on 22 March. For the same, the communication will begin from 6 March, after which for almost two weeks, viewers can see the flip happening from ETV to Colors Marathi and then, on 22 March, on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, the final logo of Colors Marathi will be launched.

     

    The transition for all the five ETV channels will take place over a period of two months. “We are staggering the transition across two months because we want to bring alive the new identity with the agrarian new year of each of the regions we are present in. All the channel logos will be unveiled in an unique way, keeping the culture of the region in mind and taking roots from the place they come from,” informed Vats. 

     

    Apart from the logo, a few channels have also undergone a change in its tagline. The new tagline for Colors Marathi is ‘Saaz Nava, Rang Nava.’ The new programmes launched on the channel include: Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards on 22 March, Majhiya Mahera on 23 March and Sakhi on 23 March.

     

    Colors Bangla, with its new tagline ‘Tomar Sapner Rong’ will launch on 12 April. The new show Great Music Gurukul will air on 13 April.  Colors Gujarati with its new tagline ‘Dil Thi Gujarati’ will launch between 13 – 18 April. As for the new programmes, the channel will air Kumkum na Pagla Padya and Preet, Piyu ane Pannaben. Colors Kannada will launch with two new shows on 26 April and Colors Oriya will rebrand on 14 April. 

     

    The logos have been created in-house by Prism TV, which currently runs the five regional channels. 

     

    Talking about the new shows, Vats said, “As this rebranding happens, we will look at a lot of synergies. This will include new shows, both fiction and non-fiction, events and combination of both. This is necessary for people to understand and recognise the journey we are undertaking.”

     

    The network has a big history. “Each of the channels run by Prism TV command a certain level of trust and loyalty from their viewers.  The rebranding exercise of Colors will bring  a new wave of freshness to the channel. In an ideal way, we want to have the best of both worlds: so while we continue to have the heritage, with rebranding and new shows, we look at injecting modernity to the channel,” opined Vats.  

     

    The network through the exercise is looking at getting in new viewers and retaining the old ones. “Rebranding will increase the viewership footprint of Colors, which is important, thus extending our brand in the regional space was the most logical way forward. Also from the viewer’s perspective, ETV has a heritage, loyalty and trust. However the channel started 15 years back and the viewers of ETV have aged with the channel. It is therefore important that we get a reappraisal of the channel and get the youngsters in,” said Vats.

     

    When queried on whether the rebranding of regional channels would see any change in the programming of Colors, Vats said, “With time, it would be a two way process. While we our flagship GEC could share best practices and insights with the regional counterparts, the regional brands will also help the brand experiment with new content ideas.”

     

    He further added, “Subject to regulatory approvals, the regional channels could become a part of Viacom18, and once that happens there could be certain experiments that go well in the regional space, which could be brought to Colors as well. Therefore there is scope for learning to both sides.”

     

    The network undertook two to three rounds of research over a period of six to nine months before finalizing the new logo. The research highlighted that:

     

    * Colors has a strong positive imagery around high production values, bold themes, innovative non-fiction and programming that drives change/social programming.

     

     * Colors is the only channel that has achieved superlative success and ratings across both fiction and non-fiction shows. It is regarded by viewers as an “all rounder” and an “activist”. In summary a rebel with a cause.

     

    * Colors does not shy away from taking risks and placing big bets e.g. 24   

     

    * Merging the strong legacy and rich cultural roots of ETV channels with the positive imagery and entrepreneurial DNA of Colors shall result in:

    – Potentially the best of both worlds. Continually delighting viewers and exceeding their expectations

    – A quantum leap for regional content which is contemporary and progressive yet rooted firmly in a bedrock of rich values and tradition

    – Development of the ecosystem spurring the creation of jobs and emergence of writers, producers, directors, actors etc

    – Cost effective and targeted solutions for advertisers 

     

    Revenue Jump 

     

    The purpose of rebranding to Colors, according to Vats, is for the Prism team to be able to exploit the opportunity in its entirety and that would mean increase in viewership and ad revenue. 

     

    “Viacom18 has been growing in strong double digits. We have been growing at about 17 odd per cent, so I will expect the regional space to grow faster than that,” he informed.  
              
     

    Marketing buzz
      

    The channel rebranding is scheduled to coincide with regional festivals that mark new beginnings. 360 degree marketing and communication campaigns encompassing TV, cinema, cable, on-ground, radio, outdoor as well as digital platforms, customised to individual regional markets, will amplify the change.

     

    “We will bring alive the rebranding of the regional general entertainment channel cluster through enhanced packaging and an integrated marketing approach,” informed Vats.

     

    Campaigns for each regional brand will leverage the distinct fervour of the corresponding state or region through region specific events and / or on-ground activations involving popular local influencers.
     

    Each campaign will run for approximately four-five weeks, beginning with Colors Marathi on 22 March 2015. Coinciding with the Maharashtrian New Year – Gudi Padva, a high decibel event will unveil the new face of Colors Marathi.

     
    Similar extravaganzas will also celebrate the unveiling of the new brand identities of Colors Oriya, Colors Bangla, Colors Gujarati and Colors Kannada.

  • Big Magic Ganga’s aspirational connect helps spike viewership

    Big Magic Ganga’s aspirational connect helps spike viewership

    MUMBAI: Big Magic Ganga, the regional general entertainment channel (GEC) from the Reliance Broadcast Network stable, has carved out a niche for itself in the Bihar+Jharkhand region. The channel, which has been seeing a growth in television ratings week on week, reached a new high in week eight of TAM TV ratings.

     

    Big Magic Ganga, which garnered 1474 GVTs in week seven of TAM TV ratings saw a 51 per cent jump in its ratings in week eight, registering 2238 GVTs.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Reliance Broadcast Network COO Lavneesh Gupta said that the week on week growth could be attributed to sustained insight backed programming. The time spent per viewer (TSV) for the channel currently stands at 58 minutes. “This too has been on a rise,” says Gupta.

     

    The channel, apart from its regular programming, banks highly on festivities.

     

    “For week 8, programmes related to Mahashivratri, aired across our various time slots did really well,” informs Gupta.

     

    In order to catch viewers attention, Big Magic Ganga, named the week Shiv Sapta, which had elements revolving around Lord Shiva. This apart, it also organised an on-ground event ‘Jai Baba Baijyanath’ with devotional singers. The same was also telecast on the channel.

     

    It also created a morning devotional band Bhakti Sagar, which telecast the Shivratri special from 6:30 – 9 am. A day-long programme on the case study of religious places called, Vishwas se Upar Aastha and Ram Charan Sukhdai telecast between 4-5 pm also gave a fillip to the channel’s ratings. Big Magic Ganga’s show Mahadev aired between 8-9 pm with repeats from 9:30 – 10:30 am also rated well, according to Gupta.

     

    Gupta feels that considering the region is high on pride of association and celebration of festivals, and there are festivals each month, which the channel celebrates, there is a strong local connect between the channel and the audiences, both on-ground as well as on-air.

     

    Big Magic Ganga has been the leader in the market for its devotional content and reality shows such as Bhakti Samrat, Beg Memsaab and Police Files. “Our strongest slot would be the morning slot – from 7:30 am right up to 10:30 am. This is highly skewed on devotion and resonates excellently with our viewers. Again in prime time evening too we do well,” adds Gupta.

     

    With six hours of original programming, the channel has the maximum original content, as compared to its competition, which includes a mix of devotion, reality and socially relevant programmes. “We increase the amount of content at the time of festivals. But we are largely happy with the audience feedback and will continue to deliver engaging content to them,” Gupta says.

     

    The channel is working towards giving audience the opportunity to engage with the brand. “In times of festivals, we craft our programming around devotion, festive and culture of the region and thus bring in fresh age groups including the youth as the channel is known for its programmes crafted on local connect and local festivals,” informs Gupta.

     

    Big Magic Ganga believes that it is essential to keep communicating with its viewers. In order to facilitate that, the channel has built local teams in Ranchi and Patna, and it is through them, that the channel undertakes several audience engagement initiatives.

     

    “From auditions on ground in the region to scout for talent, to consumer home visits to research we do it all. We also undertake regular focused group discussions and marketing through heavy on ground activations,” he informs.

     

    Big Magic Ganga, which conducts extensive research before closing in on any concept, understands that programming pegged on devotion, festivals, reality, drama and musicals works for the region. “Quantitative research, followed by focused group discussions with the pilot is always done to ensure audience acceptability,” he says, adding that the channel is looking at launching a slew of new shows soon.

     

    The channel has been standing strong, even after stern competition from the national GECs. Shedding light on how it deals with this competition, Gupta says, “Viewers watch national GECs because of aspirational value and not due to local connect. This is unique and we aim to provide local content with an aspirational and pride angle with higher relevance.”

     

    The channel, as per Gupta, has connected with its audience by making Bhojpuri more aspirational and bringing in new elements, targeting even the youth.

  • Annual Puthiya Thalaimurai Sakthi Awards to celebrate woman power

    Annual Puthiya Thalaimurai Sakthi Awards to celebrate woman power

    MUMBAI: In order to commemorate and celebrate woman power, New Generation Media is launching the annual Puthiya Thalaimurai Sakthi Awards following the footsteps of Tamizhan Awards, in partnership with Fourth Dimension Media Solutions.

     

    Puthiya Thalaimurai CEO Shankar said, “We are very happy and looking forward to the event. People just speak about women empowerment and there is too little recognition. This event will be a substantial way to honour and to acknowledge women, and I’m happy to be part of it.”

     

    The Puthiya Thalaimurai Sakthi Awards endeavours to honour and celebrate extraordinary women for outstanding achievements in their chosen fields of work and service. It aims to be a genuine and unique attempt to recognise women icons of the country and catalyse them to reach greater heights in their pursuits that help in nation building in different ways.

     

    The award winners will be selected through a stringent process combining the consensus of a jury and public voting carried out through Puthiya Thalaimurai, Puthiya Thalaimurai Magazine and PT.tv.

     

    The nominees will be shortlisted with research support from Puthiya Thalaimurai Magazine and Puthiya Thalaimurai Channel. 

     

    The award ceremony will take place at The Raintree Hotel, Anna Salai, Chennai on 8 March at 6:30 pm. The event will be telecast on Puthiya Thalaimurai at a later date.

  • Aakash Aath rides on the success of ‘The Legend’

    Aakash Aath rides on the success of ‘The Legend’

    KOLKATA: Aakash Aath, a Bengali general entertainment channel (GEC), which had launched The Legends towards the end of last year is riding high on the success of show. Last week there was a growth in viewership by around 45 per cent.
     

    The tribute to The Legends was launched by Aakash Aath from 3 November to be aired from Monday till Friday at 9.30 pm, where songs of the ‘golden era’ are sung by the singers of this era.

     

    Every day, the show is devoted to a legendary singer like RD Burman, SD Burman, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen and Rafi among others. Popular singers of today’s times like Srikanto Acharya, Rupankar, Shubhomita, Ustad Rashid Khan, Monomoy and Amit Kumar would be singing these songs.

    “The program is doing well. Few weeks ago, there was a growth in viewership by 45 per cent. The show is giving a lot of positive response. Legends never die and this show is a true example of that,” said Aakash Aath director Eshita Surana.

     

    The show has an up market and classy look on the lines of Coke Studio. Mostly hit film songs of yesteryears or the would be sung in the show. The songs would be both Bengali and Hindi. Special relevance would be outlined to songs which have gone from Bangla films to Hindi films and vice versa, views Surana.

     

    On what made Aakash Aath to launch this music show in the 9.30 time band, she said that old songs are an all time hit. “We feel at this time of the day people want something soothing and light hence came this idea. Gameshows are a tried and tested thing in this time slot. We did not want to become a ME TOO so thought something different,” Surana said.
     

    When being asked to comment on the number of shows, she said till now at least 80 episodes in the first lot is planned and the rest depends on the viewers’ response. Till now, the GCE has aired more than 70 shows.
     

    “We are doing the third lot of shooting for more 30 episodes,” she said.
     

    “Many new and repeat artists are calling us that they really want to perform on this show. Renowned artists like Srikanto Acharya, Madhura Bhattacharya and Raghab have also mentioned on the show that till now they have not got a better platform to perform like The Legends. They have all the freedom to sing whatever they like. We attempt to take music to the next level,” concluded Surana.

  • Mazhavil Manorama to launch new fiction show ‘Manjurugumkaalam’ from 16 Feb

    Mazhavil Manorama to launch new fiction show ‘Manjurugumkaalam’ from 16 Feb

    BENGALURU: Malayalam GEC Mazhavil Manorama will start airing a new fiction show from Monday to Friday called Manjurugumkaalam starting 16 Februray, 2015 at 7.30 pm. The new show replaces Aniyathi, which had run for 150 plus episodes. The channel says that it hopes to tighten up its prime-time offering with a couple of new launch and firm up the no 2 position in the Malayalam GEC market.

     

    Manjurugumkaalam has been written by Joycee and is being directed by Binu Vallathooval for the production house Rohini Vision. Another popular show by the same production house also written by Joycee – Amala had a 416 episode run.

     

    The story is based out of one of the most followed Manorama Weekly novels says the channel. The tale revolves around Janikutty, and her struggles as an adopted kid on the death of her mother. Janikkutty’s life becomes agonising and filled with hardships when her adoptive mother Ratnamma delivers her own baby. Her own father takes her back after he realises the sufferings of his daughter. On growing up Janikkutty gets elected as Member of Legislative Assembly and later becomes a powerful minister and takes revenge against those who harassed her from childhood. The saga is interspaced with her struggles to fulfil her teenage love affair.

     

    Earlier, the channel had started airing another daily fiction show Dathuputhri on 2 February in the 9 to 9.30 pm slot that replaced Amala. Dathuputhri is also a story of village girl Kanmani, an adopted child that has been directed by A M Nazeer and also features movie actor Risa Bhava as her father. Kanmani, the lone survivor of a landslide gets adopted by the state government, reaches the family of District Collector Nandakishore and Hema, who had lost their daughter. The furtive re-appearance of their lost girl, Meenu makes things take an abrupt turn for Kanmani.

     

    “Our motive is to set new standards in fiction with both new serials. Dathuputri is saga of human resistance and triumph in face of adverse circumstances. Manjurugumkalam will take the viewers through the life of an adopted girl child. The story revolves around her struggles of being an innocent adopted kid. Despite of her hardship she fights back to become a strong personality,” asserts Mazhavil Manorama chief of programmes Jude Attipetty.

  • Zee Kannada to launch two new fiction shows

    Zee Kannada to launch two new fiction shows

    MUMBAI: Zee Kannada will be launching two new fiction shows after the recent launch of its non-fiction property – Life Super Guru.

     

    Both the fiction shows are produced by producer – director Ravi R Garani. The first show is titled Mr & Mrs Rangegowda, which will be aired at 8 pm, whereas the second show titled Ondoornalli Raja Rani will be aired at 8.30 pm. The shows go on air from Monday, 16 February.

     

    Mr & Mrs Rangegowda is a mass entertainer. The male protagonist Rangegowda is an illiterate villager and the female protagonist Aishwarya, is a highly qualified city girl. The love story between the two forms the crux of the story.

     

    On the other hand, Ondoornalli Raja Rani is an off-beat story set in a small town. The female lead Rani is in search of a bride to get her father remarried while the male lead Raja is on the lookout for his aunt’s long lost family.

  • Sarthak TV launches new reality show ‘Dance Queen’

    Sarthak TV launches new reality show ‘Dance Queen’

    KOLKATA: Sarthak TV, from the Odisha-based Sarthak Entertainment Group, has launched a new reality show Dance Queen from 29 January. The show will be aired every Thursday and Friday from 9-10 pm.

     

    “This is an innovative dance reality show for married women irrespective of age. The main motto is to allow housewives to entertain themselves as well the audience including their family members. A married woman whether working or housewife, old or young has dreams within her, perhaps ambitions too and mostly has an unreleased childish energy which perhaps stays suppressed due to societal norms and pressures,” said Sarthak Entertainment Group marketing manager Debi Prasad Padhi.

     

    Now, Sarthak TV gives them a platform for realizing their dreams or aspirations, which they might have had in their early years, said Padhi.

     

    Padhi further claims that it is for the first time in the history of Odisha television industry that such a unique reality show has been launched for the common woman.

     

    “We aim to bring the show on a huge reality show format, which has never before been attempted by any other channel in Odisha and is expected to garner very high TRPs then any other show before,” added Padhi.

     

    When being asked about the event flow, Padhi said that from 25 January, auditions were held at different cities in the state of Odisha like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Rourkela among other locations. “Thousands of participants showcased their talents and entertained our celebrity judges. The event flow will have auditions, mega audition, studio round, semi final, and grand finale,” he said.

     

    The show will have celebrity judges like actress Riya Dey, veteran actor Sritam Das, superstar Bobby Mishra, and dancer and actress Koel Mukherjee. “Their presence will not only ensure high TRPs but assist the participants to hone their dancing skills,” Padhi said.

  • ‘Dancing Star 2’: number one show in Karnataka

    ‘Dancing Star 2’: number one show in Karnataka

    MUMBAI: ETV Kannada is ruling the weekend primetime slots between 8 pm to 10.30 pm with the launch of its two new shows Majaa Talkies and Dancing Star 2.

     

     Following the success of Dancing Star in its first season, ETV Kannada introduced the second season of the reality show on popular demand. Opening with 1.1 million TVTs, the show emerged at the top in Karnataka. This is the first show in Kannada mass entertainment in 2015 that has garnered peak ratings in its very first week according to the channel.

     

    The show features 12 celebrity contestants in the battle for survival as the last couple on the dance floor. Judging the celebrity dance contest are Kanasugara Ravichandran, Priyamani, and choreographer MayuriUpadhyaya. Taking forward the legacy from season one, Akul Balaji hosts this edition of the show as well.

     

    Dancing Star 2 airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm to 10.30pm on ETV Kannada.

     

    Majaa Talkies, headlined by veteran anchor and comedian Srujan Lokesh, emerged as the slot leader in the 8 pm to 9 pm slot with 0.8 million TVTs opening. The show is an adaptation of the popular Comedy Nights With Kapil, tailored to suit viewing preferences of the Kannadiga.

     

    Elaborating on the same Viacom18 EVP and project head regional channels ETV Kannada/ Bangla and Odiya Ravish Kumar said, “After the success of the first season of Dancing Star, we are overjoyed and humbled by the response that the show has received for its second edition. Majaa Talkies has performed superlatively as well and we hope to keep raising the bar of Kannada entertainment in the future.”

     

    ETV Kannada business head Parameshwar Gundkal added, “For the first time ever in this market, two high impact nonfiction properties have been launched in back to back time slots with the vision of creating high octane entertainment that will cater to people of varied viewing tastes. From the best talent on-board, to some of the best production houses for both seasons, we are glad that our efforts have yielded the appreciation showered upon us by the viewers.”