Category: Specialised and Niche

Q3-2014: Zee Learn reports nominal YTD profit

BENGALURU: The Essel Group’s education company – Zee Learn reported a nominal net profit of Rs 0.403 crore during the nine month period (YTD) ended December 31, 2013 as compared to a loss of Rs (-13.87) crore during the corresponding nine month period of the last fiscal. Operating revenue during the nine month period ended December 31, 2013 was up 25.91 per cent to Rs 80.13 crore from Rs 63.65 crore for period ended December 31, 2012.

However, Zee Learn reported a loss of Rs (-3.38) crore during Q3-2014, albeit lower when compared to a loss of Rs (-8.01) crore in Q3-2013 and a profit of Rs 0.5353 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. The company reported operating revenue of Rs 22.7 crore which was 19.27 per cent lower than the Rs 28.12 crore in Q3-2013 and 5.05 per cent lower than the Rs 23.91 crore during Q2-2014.

Let us look at the other Q3-2013 figures reported by Zee Learn…

During the nine month period ended December 31, 2013, the company’s expense at Rs 77.27 crore was 3.59 per cent more than the Rs 74.59 crore during the corresponding period of last year. The company spent a whopping 70.78 per cent more towards purchase of education goods and television content during the nine month period of 2014 at Rs 27.29 crore as compared to the Rs 16.27 crore in the corresponding nine month period of last year.

Zee Learn reported 14.64 per cent lower total expense of Rs 24 crore for Q3-2014 as compared to the Rs 28.12 crore for Q3-2013 and 7.57 per cent more than the Rs 22.31 crore during the immediate trailing quarter. An increase in stock in trade brought down the total expense by Rs 3.5 crore during Q3-2014. The corresponding reduction brought to the total expense by increase in stock in trade during Q3-2013 and Q2-2014 was Rs 1.10 crore and Rs 0.95 crore respectively.

Zee Learn spent 26.63 per cent more towards purchase of education goods and television content in Q3-2013 at Rs 9.66 crore as compared to the Rs 7.63 crore in Q3-2013 and 65.05 per cent more than the Rs 5.85 crore in Q2-2014.

The company paid 37 per cent higher finance cost in Q3-2014 at Rs 2.13 crore as compared to the Rs 1.55 crore in Q3-2013 and 42.84 per cent more than the Rs 1.49 crore in Q2-2014. During the nine month period of the current year, Zee Learn paid 25.57 per cent more towards finance charges at Rs 5.17 crore as compared to the Rs 4.11 crore during the corresponding period of last fiscal.

Click here for full report

January 30, 2014
Travelxp brings back grandma’s recipes in vogue

MUMBAI: Move over fusion and fad foods, good-old grandma’s recipes are making a comeback. And putting them back in focus is travel channel, Travelxp HD, with its new show Quest slated to air every Saturday at 8.30 pm, starting 1 February.

Much to the delight of foodies, this extravagant gastronomical journey will scoop out long forgotten recipes from across geographies like Banitza, the Bulgarian cheese turnover; Pampushki, the Russian/Ukranian stuffed potato dumplings; Mamaliga, Romanian stuffed polenta balls; Kajmak, Serbian cheese spread; Bialy Barszcz, Polish white Borscht; Bandwesh of Rewa, a type of Indian gosht; Sarma, Serbian stuffed cabbage; Dusene Zeli, Czech braised cabbage; and Lecso, Hungarian tomato pepper stew among others.

So why did a travel channel start a food show? Travelxp HD director Nisha Chothani replies: “When we were sitting on to decide our fresh line-up of programming, we realised that there are a lot of programs across the world and specially in India where people have been watching recipes which have been there since quite a few years but over time have either been adapted in a different format or got lost. So we thought of providing a platform for people who are used to observing the recipes with a different tadka.”

The channel’s research team realised that traditional food has taste and is the key to nutrition and health. After extensive research and discussions with food researchers and chefs, the channel came to the conclusion that demand for traditional food is now outgrowing demand for the latest recipes and audiences are now turning back to their roots.

Quest will be hosted by Alex, herself a food enthusiast who won the National Award for her cooking skills in a program called Herb Heroes judged by John Torode of MasterChef fame. She will not only dig for little known or remembered recipes from across the globe, she will also unravel the story behind each such dish and what makes it unique.

Speaking about her experience working with the show and the channel, she said: “Working on Quest was enjoyable but challenging. To be able to see so many great places and meet so many people – we did a lot of travelling by all means of transport. I tried so many foods that the general public doesn’t get to try like recipes from Maharajas, politicians, Princes and teachers plus many more.”

With so much competition from food-based programs across channels, how will this show stand out? “This is the show about recipes which are not actually covered. If you notice, today, all the food shows across channels, it is more about fusion and fast food. This is about making food which used to be made earlier. Through this show, we are kind of presenting it again to the viewers that have been lost over the years. When presented again, I am sure it is going to interest a lot of people,” says Chothani.

With 25+ women as target audience, the channel feels the Saturday primetime slot is the right choice, given that TV is decorated with reality shows in that time band. “There is a certain audience for reality and there is a certain audience for non-reality. Not everybody would want to sit down on a Saturday evening and watch a singing or dancing show. There is an audience for everything. We believe there will be audience for this, who will be interested in watching this,” says Chothani.

On the marketing side, the channel will promote the show across all its network channels and more so in print. At present, the channel’s official Facebook page boasts around more than 17 thousand likes and around 828 followers on Twitter (at the time of penning this article).

While media planners feel that, the show is not going to live up to the channel’s expectations. “Look at the amount of food shows in television today. On a weekend what grabs more eyeballs is content that is entertaining and stress buster for an individual after a stress full week. Who would want to sit infront of their TV sets and check out food recipes,” informs media planner.

January 28, 2014
Discovery channel magazine is “now in india” in association with india today group

MUMBAI: Discovery expands its portfolio in India beyond television with the launch of Discovery Channel Magazine in association with the India Today Group, who will be the publishers of the magazine in India.

Discovery Channel Magazine will deliver an original mix of content, spanning science, adventure, culture and oddities from around the globe. It will include a wide range of topics including nature, adventure, marvels, sci-tech, history, the universe, forensics, survival, psychology and the environment. From truly in-depth feature treatments, to research and fun facts; the magazine will feature world-class photography and info-graphics, brought together in a visually splendid mix that blends insight and humour.

A three-time winner at the globally acclaimed Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards for Editorial Excellence, Discovery Channel magazine will cover a wide spectrum of engaging stories from India and around the world. The inaugural issue of the magazine celebrates India with an exhilarating cover feature on the Taj Mahal. It also offers an exclusive access to the next generation skylines, the new world of immersive gaming and emergence of megafoods that resist certain diseases longer than the regular food. The magazine has appointed Jamal Shaikh as the Editor. The editorial board for the magazine in India from Discovery includes Rahul Johri and Rajiv Bakshi.

Rahul Johri, SVP and General Manager – South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said, “The launch of Discovery Channel Magazine is a natural extension of our strategy to inform and entertain consumers with compelling content across platforms. We are delighted to partner with the India Today Group and are confident that we will be able to combine our strengths to satisfy the aspirational consumers. An insightful read on a wide range of subjects, the magazine will stand out for its energetic and exciting layout, distinct content and mesmerizing photographs.”

Ashish Bagga, Group CEO, The India Today Group, added, “Discovery Channel Magazine will encompass the DNA of Discovery’s channels into a more in-depth look that only print medium can offer. Covering science, urban lifestyles, wildlife, technology and history, the magazine avatar of this iconic global brand will inform, intrigue and challenge the thinking of information-driven individuals into the direction of the future. It will also add a new dimension to the diverse portfolio of magazines already published by The India Today Group. The magazine will address a high quality audience and our readers can be assured that, like all other magazines from our stable, Discovery Channel Magazine India will also maintain the highest levels of editorial quality and rigour.”

A monthly magazine, it will be available for sale on newsstands and leading book stores around the country at a cover price of Rs. 150. The magazine will also be available via annual subscription. It will be published in English language.

Discovery Channel Magazine is available throughout Asia in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and New Zealand.

January 27, 2014
Food ka Mood returns

MUMBAI: Food ka Mood is back with whole lot new exciting and delicious recipes with Season II on Zee Khana Khazana, India’s first 24hr food channel. This Instructional Cooking Food Show will be hosted by our much loved chef Gautam Mehrishi. This show promises to become your everyday companion, enriching your culinary vocabulary and empowering you to try your hand at cooking dishes you never thought you could. Chef Gautam’s calm confidence encourages budding chefs to experiment, and gives experienced cooks new insights into everyday with ease. With his guidance you will be able to charm your family with their favorite food and treat your friends to delicious meals full of love. In each episode you will learn how to make a new starter, main course and dessert. The show also features festive food and seasonal specials.

January 23, 2014
Discovery channel enters one of the finest institutions of the world -national defence academy

MUMBAI: One of the most reputed training academies globally, the National Defence Academy, popularly known as the NDA, holds the distinction of being the first tri-services academy in the world. The cadets of all three defence services – army, air force and navy are trained together before proceeding further to their individual training academies. For the first time ever, Discovery Channel’s REVEALED: NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY takes viewers on an exploratory journey through one of the country’s finest institutions, the National Defence Academy.

Watch the special REVEALED: NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY on Sunday, January 26 at 9 PM, only on Discovery Channel.

Discovery Channel takes viewers inside this fascinating and enigmatic institution, to understand what makes the NDA so exceptional. Steeped in tradition and lore, the one-hour long film delves into the academy’s focus of instilling the qualities of a soldier into a young cadet who in the future will go onto serving his nation with courage and pride and covers the three-year journey of cadets as they make their way through the course.

Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager – South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said, “We are delighted to present REVEALED: NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY which goes behind the scene to understand what makes it such a unique institution. The film charts out the history of the institution as the cradle of military leadership and the qualities the academy instills into a young cadet who in future goes onto serving the nation with courage and pride. It’s another first from Discovery Channel.”

Though the idea for a Joint Services Military Academy had taken root at the conclusion of the Second World War and a Joint Services Wing was first established in Dehradun in 1949, the National Defence Academy was established in 1955. Besides a brief history of the NDA and the fact that the Academy, located in Khadakwasla, near Pune, is spread over 8000 acres with the Sinhgad Fort in its backdrop.

This unique institution today is the pride of not only this country but also for the various other countries which send their cadets there for training.After graduating from NDA, the cadets either join the Indian Military Academy, the Air Force Academy or the Indian Naval Academy. These young men become Guardians, Protectors and Defenders of the Republic of India.

January 23, 2014
FOODFOOD integrates with Nagesh Kukunoor’s Lakshmi

MUMBAI: FOODFOOD, the No 1 food lifestyle channel in India joins with director Nagesh Kukunoor’s film, Lakshmi, based on women trafficking, a frightening reality that haunts women from deprived backgrounds. A true story of a child-woman whose spirit could not be broken in spite of trauma and emotional battering she faced.

As a part of the integration FOODFOOD is hosting a contest during its popular TV show Cook Smart with Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor who is joined by director Nagesh Kukunoor, stars Shefali Shah &the protagonist Monali Thakur (ex Indian Idol) on the show. During the episode, January 23^rd, 5.00 PM, viewers will be asked three contest questions from the said episode and the questions will be posted on Facebook page of FOODFOOD. The winners will get Lakshmi movie merchandise and exciting prizes.

Stay tuned to FOODFOOD on January 23^rd, at 5.00 PM, to Cook Smart and win fabulous prizes.

January 21, 2014
NDTV Good Times presents the third season of “Jai Hind with Rocky and Mayur”

MUMBAI: To celebrate the spirit of nationalism, NDTV Good Times, India’s youngest lifestyle channel, presents Jai Hind Season 3 with the invincible duo Rocky and Mayur. As part of the special programming series, Jai Hind pays tribute to the Indian Armed forces, marking the 64th Republic Day celebrations in the country.

The series is a compilation of never-seen-before facets of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Rocky and Mayur will be seen visiting the Indian Armed Forces – High Altitude Warfare School, where Rocky successfully completes a 100 feet rappel with Mayur’s assistance; Air Warrior Drill Team where they live the dangers of twirling rifles and bayonets and the National Defence Academy to experience the life of the officers in training . The duo also visits the Indian Naval Services where they sail on the high seas and also spend time with Jawans at Gladiators, JAKLI and 17 Guards.

Watch Rocky & Mayur live the hardships faced by the Indian Armed forces, as well as the intensive training, grooming, measured diets, and even the rush of adrenaline involved in setting up an ambush.

Presented as an eight-part episodic series, the season premieres January 18th and ends on the 25th, 2014, followed by a special day long telecast of all the episodes on January 26th.

“Jai Hind with Rocky and Mayur” Starts this Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 8 PM exclusively on NDTV Good Times Catch all the episodes on 26th January, 12 PM to 4 PM

January 18, 2014
Get set for a gastronomical trip with Vikas Khanna on ‘Twist of Taste’

MUMBAI: Buck up for a gastronomical session as the New York based Michelin starred chef and restaurateur Vikas Khanna gets ready to take you on an adventure. The chef, in the third instalment of FOX Traveller’s Twist of Taste, would explore India’s vast coastline to hunt for the best curries and coastal dishes along the sandy beaches of Udvada, Ratnagiri, Goa, Mangalore, Udupi, Manipal, Kochi and Pondicherry, visiting places, meeting people and giving his signature touch to the local flavours. Aptly titled Twist of Taste: Coastal Curries will go on air from 20 Jaunuary, every Monday and Tuesday 9.30 pm.

During his trip, Vikas will meet home cooks, chefs, farmers, fishermen, bakers, merchants, restaurateurs and chocolatiers and watch them as they share with him their food, traditions and the story of their journeys.

FOX International Channels vice president, marketing Debarpita Banerjee says, “Food is a popular subject, a popular topic, and we plan to maximise the topic’s already wise reach with the new season of Twist of Taste, which itself is a flagship show for FOX Traveller. The audiences have loved the concept and we are excited to partner with Vikas Khanna in the third season of the show. ‘Twist of Taste: Coastal Curries’ reiterates our promise to bring more exciting and quality local content to the Indian audiences- that showcases travel and food in a whole new, sumptuous and exciting manner. Vikas is not just an excellent chef, but also a very aware and livewire traveller; he is a naturally instinctive cook, a ‘son of the soil’.”

The earlier two seasons of the show had the internationally renowned chef Vineet Bhatia as the host. However Banerjee says that this time around the chef’s time were not matching with the show’s schedule. Coincidentally, Vikas was more than happy to step in the shoes of Vineet.

“One of the main reasons he came on board was the fact that he wanted to explore the country he left years ago,” says Banerjee and continues, “and the various types of cuisines the country has to offer and we are confident that his energy and expertise will weave magic with taste buds.”

The chef, on his part exclaims, “I’m delighted to be a part of this exciting show. Through the show Twist of Taste, I have had a chance to explore India’s vast coastline and experiment with its cuisine. The people have been very warm in welcoming me into their kitchens and sharing their delicious recipes; I truly feel enriched with newer experiences!”

Given the raw nature of the program, the channel is aiming to tap 18+ audiences. Considering food is one of the easiest products to market, Banerjee says, “To market Twist of Taste, we have promoted heavily on various networks. From collaborating with Tata Sky’s Active Cooking to a digital social media spread out, we have tried to market it as much as a show which already has a good reach should be marketed.”

Inspired by all the delicious, timeless food and the riveting stories of people, Vikas visits the Twist of Taste kitchen to give it his own fascinating signature twist. From Caramelised Cucumber Cake to Shrimp Poha Biryani to Udupi Sambar Jar Cakes, Twist of Taste is bound to be a true culinary adventure.

January 17, 2014
Haim Saban to Headline NAB Show Opening

MUMBAI: Haim Saban, chairman of Univision Communications Inc., founder of Saban Capital Group and the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, will headline the 2014 NAB Show Opening. NAB Show is the world’s leading convention for professionals who create, manage and distribute entertainment across all media platforms. The question-and-answer session, led by NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith, will take place Monday, April 7 in Las Vegas following Smith’s “State of the Broadcast Industry” address. The event is sponsored by Blackmagic Design.

In 2007, Saban teamed with a group of investors to acquire Univision Communications Inc. (UCI). Under the consortium’s ownership, UCI has further grown as the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Assets include Univision Network, which is one of the top five networks, regardless of language, and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country, reaching 96 percent of U.S. Hispanic households; UniMás, also a Spanish-language broadcast television network, reaching 89 percent of U.S. Hispanic households; Univision Cable Networks, which includes Galavisión, Univision Deportes Network, Univision tlnovelas, ForoTV, and an additional suite of six cable offerings – De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Distrito Comedia; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group in the U.S., which owns and/or operates 69 stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Uforia, the leading Hispanic digital music service; UVideos, the first bilingual digital video network; an interactive network of online and mobile apps and products including Univision.com; Flama, the digital home for discovering and sharing original and curated video and other English-language content made by, for and with Hispanic Millennials; Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network; a joint venture with Disney/ABC Television Network for Fusion; and lastly, a minority stake in the El Rey Network, a new general interest network from maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez.

“Haim Saban is a true pioneer in the broadcast and entertainment industry who continually finds innovative ways to create and deliver entertainment to international audiences,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “I look forward to discussing the future of the global media business with Mr. Saban during our conversation at NAB Show.”

In addition to its ownership in UCI, Saban Capital Group (SCG), which was formed in 2001, also maintains a controlling stake in Partner Communications, the leading telecommunications operator in Israel; Celestial Tiger Entertainment, a venture with Lionsgate and Astro, Malaysia’s largest pay TV platform, to launch and operate new branded pay television channels across Asia; Taomee, China’s leading children’s online entertainment company; MNC, Indonesia’s largest and only vertically-integrated media company; and Sky Vision, Indonesia’s largest pay-TV platform. SCG also owns Saban Brands, which currently holds the rights to Power Rangers and Paul Frank Industries, Julius Jr., Digimon Fusion, VORTEXX, Zui, The Playforge, Zombie Farm and Popples. Earlier in his career, Saban created Saban Entertainment, an international television production, distribution and merchandising company, which produced hits such as The X-Men and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. In 1995, Saban Entertainment merged with Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Kids Network and was restructured under the Fox Family Worldwide banner. Fox Family was eventually sold to The Walt Disney Company in 2001.

Mr. Saban and his wife, Cheryl, Ph.D. established the Saban Family Foundation in 1999 to support medical, children’s and education programs. These include: The Saban Free Clinic in Los Angeles, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, The Saban Pediatric Medical Center at Soroka Hospital in Israel, The Saban Birth & Maternity Center at Soroka Hospital, the John Wayne Cancer Institute, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, American Israel Education Foundation, William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, and the United Friends of the Children. The Sabans are considered among the most generous philanthropists in the U.S. and Israel.

January 17, 2014
The true stories of real life feral children on raised wild

MUMBAI: Stories of children raised by animals have fascinated us for many centuries; Mowgli from The Jungle Book, the myth of Romulus and Remus, and even Tarzan. Do wild children who have been reported to be brought up by untamed animals actually exist, or are they merely folklores or elaborate hoaxes? On Animal Planet’s RAISED WILD, discover the shocking phenomenon and horrifying truth of real life feral children who have actually been bred by undomesticated animals.

A three-part special, join anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota as she sets off on the trails of these extraordinary youths to uncover the actuality of their existence and unravel their remarkable stories. From the deep jungles of Uganda, to the rural heartlands of Ukraine, and to one of the most isolated places on Earth, the island of Fiji, follow Mary-Ann on RAISED WILD as her quest to separate fact from fiction takes her across three continents to disentangle the truth about these wild children, who live and survive on the very edge of humanity. RAISED WILD premieres on Sunday, January 26 at 7 pm. The episodes will repeat the following Sunday, February 2 at 11 am.

RAISED WILD begins with the search for John Ssabunnya, the alleged ‘monkey boy’ of Uganda. Reported to be living deep in heart of these East African forests, it has been described that he not only moves and sounds like our cousins of the animal kingdom, but also displays numerous monkey-like characteristics such as his nocturnal behaviour, his fur-like, hairy body, and his ability to survive solely on fruits and plants, a diet that is highly identical to that of Africa’s native vervet monkeys. With Charles Darwin’s extensive study of men evolving from primates and centuries of research and scientific theories closely linking human beings to these creatures, is it possible that ‘monkey humans’ really do exist?

RAISED WILD then continues with the investigation of one of the most infamous cases of feral children in Kiev, Ukraine, where a girl called Oxana Malaya has been reported to astoundingly exhibit dog-like behaviour; barking, panting, snarling, jumping and running on all fours amid a pack of untamed dogs, and feeding on dead animals when hunger strikes. Is this ‘dog girl’ a well-conceived fable or a fact? Just how did she end up in the care of these animals, picked up their habits and managed to survive for so long as one of them, away from civilisation for years? Follow Mary-Ann as she scours the country to unriddle the mystery, travelling far and wide from Kiev to Kherson to Odessa and even to Novaya Blagoveschenka, the village where Oxana is believed to have been born.

RAISED WILD ends in Fiji with possibly one of the strangest tales of wild children. As a child, ‘bird boy’ Sujit Kumar was supposedly kept and raised in a coop full of chickens for a few years by his poverty-stricken parents, for reasons unknown, and was cited to have then continued living his life being tied to a wall in the corner of a home for the aged for almost 25 years. Having being amongst chickens for so long, he apparently started to behave like them; pecking on the ground for food, clucking, squawking, screeching occasionally and lashing out when people try to touch him. Who is this ‘bird boy’ and how credible is his story? Join Mary-Ann as she digs deep to delve into the truth of the mysterious and disturbing world of savage feral youths. What is the likelihood that these wild children are mere figments of imagination? Is it even possible for animals to raise human beings? Are these children so far gone that it is too late for them to blend back into society and lead normal lives? How many more of such youths are out there? Find out on the following episodes of RAISED WILD:

MONKEY BOY OF UGANDA: Mary-Ann journeys to equatorial Africa to uncover the truth behind the rumour of young boy living with monkeys. In 1992, a young boy was discovered in the jungle acting disturbingly similar to a monkey. Rumours circulated that the boy screeched like a monkey, squatted instead of stood and was covered in hair from head to toe. Join Mary-Ann as she investigates to determine if this child really could have been raised by monkeys, and if so, how he survived in the wild.

DOG GIRL OF UKRAINE: Mary-Anna journeys to Ukraine to uncover the truth behind the incredible story of Oxana Malaya, a young girl allegedly raised by dogs. Born during the Soviet era to alcoholic parents, young Oxana is said to have turned to the family dogs for warmth and love. Years later, she reportedly was acting exactly like a dog, a claim supported by compelling video footage. How might a child recover from such beginnings? Can her feral behaviour fade with time?

BIRD BOY OF FIJI: Mary-Ann travels to Fiji to uncover the shocking truth behind the story of the Bird Boy of Fiji. Rumours circulate that police discovered the small boy while he was squawking, flapping his arms and pecking at his food. Villagers claim the child’s parents kept him locked under the house with the family chickens, and it was his years spent with the birds that affected his development. Can this child recover from such an upbringing?

January 15, 2014