ITV

Category: Specialised and Niche

  • Discovery channel India celebrates 25 years

    Discovery channel India celebrates 25 years

    MUMBAI: On 15 August 2020, Discovery channel will commemorate its 25th anniversary in India by hosting celebrations on-air, online, and in the heart of communities around the country. To mark the milestone, Discovery has launched a new campaign #KeepExploring with noted actor Rahul Bose doing the voice-over. The network is also unveiling a slew of blue-chip documentaries and specials across genres such as dventure, survival, mystery, and wilddlife to celebrate the 25th anniversary. The breath-taking line-up for the next few months includes titles including ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls’, ‘Expedition Unknown’, ‘Savage Builds’, ‘Mysteries at the Museum’,’ Body Hack S3’ and ‘Walking The Elephants’ among many more.

    “Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content. In these twenty-five years, Discovery has emerged as the foremost, the most trusted broadcaster in real-life entertainment in the country,” said Discovery MD – south Asia Megha Tata. “We are proud to say that Discovery has ignited the passion inside all of us to be curious, explore and be more engaged with the natural world.  We will further accelerate our efforts to showcase never-seen-before Premium Discovery titles, must-watch documentaries, India originals, and exclusive acquisitions.”

    “I have been a passionate Discovery watcher and fed hugely on science, travel, and nature shows when the channel was initially launched in India. Being a part of this campaign took me down memory lane – How The Universe Works, Man vs Wild…I can go on,” said Bose. “I love the thought #KeepExploring – because that’s what Discovery leads you to do – explore new places, new concepts, new ideas for the future that you never dreamt existed. It urges people to go beyond the limits of human imagination.”

    Over the past 25 years, Discovery has launched iconic, all-time favorite shows, such as ‘Morgan Freeman’s Through The Wormhole’, ‘How The Universe Works’, ‘How It’s Made’, ‘How Do They Do It?’, ‘Storm Chasers’, ‘You Have Been Warned’, ‘Man Vs Wild’, ‘MythBusters’, ‘Expedition Unknown’, ‘Walking The Himalayas’, ‘River Monsters’ and ‘Gold Rush’ et al.

    In India, the channel has launched a series of impactful shows on Indian armed forces including ‘India’s Paratroopers – Earning the Badge’, ‘Revealed: LOC’,’ Battle Ops’, ‘Revealed: National Defence Academy’, ‘Revealed Siachen’, and 1965: India’s Battles and Heroes’  and Breaking Point franchise on ‘Air Force Academy’, ‘Indian Submariners’, ‘High Altitude Warfare School’, ‘Women Fighter Pilots’ and ‘Commando School Belgaum’.  Discovery’s ‘Man vs Wild with Prime Minister Modi’ is the highest-rated show in the genre to date followed by ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls and Superstar Rajinikanth’.

    Discovery Channel was launched in India on 15 August 1995.  The infotainment channel is available in seven languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali. Discovery India, today, offers 14 channels and has recently launched India’s first real-life entertainment streaming application Discovery Plus.

  • This Independence Day, watch ‘India’s Forgotten Army,’ the untold story of India’s role in World War I, on History TV18

    This Independence Day, watch ‘India’s Forgotten Army,’ the untold story of India’s role in World War I, on History TV18

    NEW DELHI: At the start of the war in 1914, over thirteen lakh Indian soldiers began to be shipped overseas to fight alongside the British Army. Of them, 75,000 were never to return home, killed in combat on faraway battlefields. Using rare archival footage, first-person narratives, and expert testimonials, the impeccably-researched one-hour documentary investigates India’s role in the first global conflict. It also recognises and documents the sacrifices of thousands of Indian families, thus restoring to India’s unsung heroes, their glorious and rightful place in history.

    As the guns fell silent towards the end of 1918, the First World War had raged for almost five long years. It had come to be known as The Great War, “the war to end all wars.” It had caused devastation at such a large scale that most people believed that humankind would never want to go to war again. Millions of soldiers of various nationalities had fought and died on both sides. However, very little is known about the Indian soldiers deployed on foreign soil all over the world. At the time, the leaders of India’s freedom struggle had hoped that sending our men to support the British war effort would make it possible to gain greater autonomy for India. But those hopes proved futile. Instead, imperial Great Britain even denied India due recognition for her role in winning the war. The men were forgotten. Their enormous sacrifices lost to time, unrecorded by history. Indian Member of Parliament and former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Shashi Tharoor, says in the film, "No country lost as many people from any colony in the Empire, as we did and yet, I'm sorry to say, it was given very little attention. Indians sacrificed an enormous amount, and some of their letters, all of which were censored, are deeply moving."

    ‘India’s Forgotten Army,’ premiering on 15th August, Saturday 9 PM, is an attempt to trace and document the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers, shipped to distant shores to live and fight in deplorable conditions. The film also uses first-person accounts to tell the story of the war and the circumstances that Indian soldiers faced, as revealed in the letters they wrote to their families, more than a hundred years ago. Viewers will also hear from the descendants of those who fought in The Great War, along with leading personalities. The documentary takes viewers to the sites of battles, memorials and war archives around the world, bringing together military experts and historians, to uncover hidden facts and retell forgotten stories. The documentary has been adapted from the book, ‘World War Sikh: Memoirs Of An Indian Cavalryman 1913-45’ by Rana T.S. Chhina.

    Avinash Kaul, Managing Director A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO-Broadcast for Network18 said, "In our continuing endeavour to offer top-drawer Indian and international content, History TV18 brings to its viewers the remarkable, untold story of the Indian soldiers who fought in the First World War. Their military prowess helped shape the course of human history.  We salute them and their families for their incredible bravery and sacrifices."

    Watch the premiere of ‘India’s Forgotten Army,' on Independence Day, 15th August, Saturday, at 9 PM, only on History TV18.

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  • FTA channel Hare Krsna TV aims to specialise in motivational talks

    FTA channel Hare Krsna TV aims to specialise in motivational talks

    MUMBAI: Mumbai-based surgeon Dr Bimal Shah runs Hare Krsna TV, a free to air (FTA) satellite TV channel. Being a self-funded channel run for social service, several cable operators carry it without a carriage fee. However, the challenge has been with the bigger names in cable and DTH, who are hesitant.

    Shah says, “I believe running a channel is the highest form of social service as it caters to both the rich and poor.  A lot of money is spent on content and broadcasting. Cable operators can also be benefitted by carrying this channel because it is unique in its approach and it is not like other devotional channels. Cable operators will have some good content in their bouquet to offer the viewers and eventually retain their subscribers.”

    The channel sources, curates and processes content from the worldwide centres of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The programming lineup consists of temple darshan from various centres of ISKCON, morning darshan and all the aartis. Besides this, a major portion of the programming includes music and satsang. The footages are acquired from 600 ISKCON centres in the world. Considering the pandemic, the channel has had to install multiple camera setup in various ISKCON centres across India for the live feed. Through this medium Shah wants to highlight the importance of Indian and Indo-western culture.

    He adds, “Our channel doesn’t just talk about Bhagwat Geeta or our Puranas, but it also conducts a lot of motivational talks that connect to the youth. ISKCON is just not synchronised on religion; we all teach about ancient Vedic philosophies. The content is curated in such a way that could interest all sections of society. It is very similar to other motivational speakers like Jay Shetty and Gaur Gopal Das. It has a lot of practical implementation in day to day life.”

    Shah wants to make Hare Krsna TV as a specialised channel which talks about motivational speeches. According to him, unlike in the western world, there is no Indian channel that caters to the need of youth in terms of philosophical topics. He also clarifies that there is no political agenda to start the channel. To provide maximum viewing experience, the channel is also ad-free. It doesn’t even have tele-shoppe or any other kind of promotional shows.

    A major part of the funding is done by Shah and his wife and the rest is done with the help of donations. The couple has been associated with ISKCON for more than 34 years.

    A team of 31 employees, also ISKCON followers, handle the channel. Technical aspects are looked after by a third-party company named Skandha and satellite broadcasting work is handled by Lamhas.

    Launched as a local channel in 2016, Hare Krsna acquired the satellite licence last year. On 11 August 2020 Hare Krsna TV will complete four years since its launch. The channel is currently present in 25 million households.

    NXT DIGITAL, GTPL – KCBPL, ORTEL, APFiber, UCN, Siti Maurya Cable, Siti Siri Digital Network, Siti Cable, Hathway MCN,  Den Satellite, DL GTPL, JPR, Bhima Riddhi Infotainment, Take One JK Media, Inspire Digital, Satellite Cable, DDC, Umbrella Cable Systems, Skynet Digital, BRDS and others.

    The channel is present in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra and several other states.

  • ENIL income from outside India grows as other numbers plummet in first quarter

    ENIL income from outside India grows as other numbers plummet in first quarter

    BENGALURU: Indian private FM player Entertainment Network (India) Ltd (ENIL), which runs the Mirchi brand radio network in India, reported 71.7 percent fall in consolidated Total Income from Operations (TIO) for the quarter ended 30 June 2020 (Q1 2021, quarter or period under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (Q1 2020). The company reported consolidated revenue of Rs 38.46 crore for the quarter as compared to Rs 130.52 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q), revenue in Q 2021 also fell 75.3 percent from Rs 149.63 crore in Q4 2020.

    Break up of operating revenue from India was Rs 27.28 for Q1 2021, which was 78.9 percent lower y-o-y than the Rs 129.41 crore in Q1 2020 and was 81.2 percent lower q-o-q than Rs 145.02 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q4 2020.

    Operating revenue from outside India in Q1 2021 almost quadrupled (increased 271.7 percent) y-o-y to Rs 11.18 percent (29.1 percent of operating revenue) from Rs 3.01 crore (2.3 percent of operating revenue) in Q1 2020 and increased 60.4 percent q-o-q from Rs 6.82 crore (4.5 percent of operating revenue) in Q4 2020.

    ENIL reported a consolidated loss of Rs 12.18 crore for Q1 2021 as compared to a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 2.64 crore in Q1 2020 and a lower loss of Rs 1.60 crore in Q4 2020.

    ENIL’s consolidated Earnings before Interest, Depreciation, Taxes and Amortisation (EBITDA, operating profit or operating loss) for Q1 2020 was a loss of Rs 25.94 crore as compared to operating profit of Rs 33.06 crore (25 percent of operating revenue) in Q1 2020 and an operating profit of Rs 22.99 crore (15.1 percent of operating revenue) in the immediate trailing quarter.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by ENIL

    ENIL total expense (TE) in Q1 2020 reduced 26.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 94.41 crore from Rs 129.19 crore in Q1 2020, and fell 41.2 percent q-o-q from Rs 160.42 crore in Q4 2020.

    Production expense for the period under review declined 52.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 13.60 crore from Rs 28.77 crore in Q 2020 and fell 73.9 percent q-o-q from Rs 52.04 crore in Q4 2020.

    License fee in Q1 2021 was 12 percent lower y-o-y at Rs 7.87 crore crore as compared to Rs 8.95 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and fell 14 percent q-o-q from Rs 9.15 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q4 2020.

    Employee Benefit Expense (EBE) in Q1 2021 at Rs 26.30 crore fell 25.9 percent y-o-y from Rs 35.49 crore in Q1 2020 and declined 17 percent q-o-q from Rs 31.68 crore (20.7 percent of TIO).

    Finance costs in Q1 2020 declined 3 percent y-o-y to Rs 4.72 crore from Rs 4.86 crore in Q1 2020 and was almost flat (increased 0.4 percent) from Rs 4.70 crore in Q4 2020.

    Other expenses in Q1 2021 at Rs 16.64 crore declined 35.4 percent y-o-y from Rs 26.15 crore in Q1 2020 and were 53.8 percent lower q-o-q from Rs 35.97 crore in Q4 2020).

    Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

  • A Safarnama with TV actor Ankit Siwach on EPIC TV

    A Safarnama with TV actor Ankit Siwach on EPIC TV

    Mumbai: IN10 Media Network’s EPIC TV has taken its audiences on umpteen journeys across the country – from exploring abandoned palaces and forts to taking off on adventures to exotic and wild jungles and even exploring the gastronomical wonders of several cuisines. Building on its legacy of being India Ka Apna Infotainment, EPIC TV brings a limited series to celebrate the vibrant facets of the country. Titled Safarnama, the show is hosted by the well-known television actor and passionate traveler, Ankit Siwach. The series travels from Mumbai to the unseen corners of Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh and reveals to the audience unheard stories from these beautiful regions.

    Ankit heads to the Himalayan mountains on a quest to find peace and serenity. His journey begins in the hustle-bustle of Mumbai and comes to a close in Kargil. As he travels, he explores the charm of Old Delhi, scenic sights of Kullu-Manali, famous monasteries and Pangong lake of Ladakh. He rides through the highest motorable pass of Asia, Khardungla La, unearths heroic tales of Kargil and has many more adventures. Safarnama is his travelogue filled with unforgettable memories and extraordinary experiences. 

    Produced by Sinashh Films, the 9-episode series will be telecast at 8:30 pm, every Monday, from 3rd August, 2020, with a repeat telecast at 12:30 pm on every Tuesday.  

    “EPIC TV has been home to some of the most exceptional stories about India across a vast range of genres and we take pride in bringing these extraordinary perspectives to our audiences,” said IN10 Media Network  VP – Corporate Strategy and Development Mansi Darbar. She adds further, “Safarnama deep dives into the variegated uniqueness of India through its exploratory narrative. We look forward to taking our audience on an exciting expedition and discovering a yet uncharted facet of India.”

    Speaking about his experience anchoring the travel series, Ankit Siwach said, “Safarnama is very close to my heart and it is an honour to present the most beautiful parts of our country to the audience through my experiences. The show is also an ode to the armed forces and the people of Himachal and Ladakh.”

    “The series is a breath of fresh air when people around the country are locked down in their homes fighting the ongoing pandemic. The scenic beauty, adventurous rides, never seen before villages, people, the might of our army protecting the northernmost borders in the treacherous terrains in the world and everything else that came alive organically during the trip will definitely put a smile on the audience’s face. I hope the viewers get an experience of a lifetime through Safarnama,” said the actor, who made his acting debut on television with Rishton Ka Chakravyuh in 2017, and was later seen in popular television shows like Manmohini and Beyhadh 2.

    The Safarnama series is the latest addition to EPIC TV’s wide and thoughtfully cataloged list of travel-based shows that explore the diverse landscapes and facets of India, which include popular series like Ekaant, Sanrachna, Road Less Travelled, Way Back Home, Indiepedia, Lost Recipes, Wilderness Days and more. Apart from travel, the channel’s India-centric content library continues telling exceptional stories across history, mythology, sports, food, wildlife, nature, etc.

  • HistoryTV18 brings ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel of Madurai’

    HistoryTV18 brings ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel of Madurai’

    MUMBAI: HistoryTV18 is adding to its India offering with the new original production, ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel Of Madurai,’ premiering on May 4th, Monday 8 PM. As the world faces an unprecedented challenge, and the government rules out public celebrations, HistoryTV18 brings viewers an immersive experience of the Chithirai festival and the famed Meenakshi Temple, at home on television screens. The one-hour programme premieres on the auspicious day of Thirukalyanam.

    Filmed in 2019, the documentary celebrates the legend of Meenakshi Amman, Mother Goddess, queen, and patron deity of the ancient city of Madurai. The film showcases the first two weeks of the grand celebrations in Tamil Nadu’s second-largest city, taking viewers behind the scenes of key events, along with their back-stories and socio-cultural significance. It presents never-seen-before visuals of the Chithirai festivities, tracing its history, uncovering amazing facts, and delving into fascinating folklore. The narrative also relies on human stories, through characters whose lives are inextricably intertwined with the mother goddess, Her temple, and its most important annual event. The documentary also takes a closer look at the logistics, security, and scale of organising the massive festival.

    The film also explores the historical and architectural significance of Madurai’s glorious landmark, its origins, expansion and present form. High-definition and 4K cameras reveal the incredible art and architecture of the many structures spread over the 14-acre complex, along with insights of experts and temple authorities to provide context and perspective. With a staggering 33,000 intricate sculptures, painted ceilings, mandapams, shrines, and fourteen towering gopurams, embellished with thousands of mythological characters and fantastical creatures, the temple is a feat of artistic genius and geometric precision. The storytelling, with stunning visuals and slickly-edited sequences, shines the light on South India’s indigenous craftsmanship, engineering, and cultural richness.

    The original production, a year in the making, captures the pomp and ceremony of some of the most important days of the Chithirai festival – from ‘pattabhishekham’ the coronation of the goddess,  to ‘thirukalyanam’ the divine wedding, and ‘rathotsavam’ the chariot or car festival.

    Also featuring prominently is the Kallalaghar festivities that honour Lord Vishnu, with lakhs of people arriving at the Vaigai River in Madurai. The event has socio-political significance and is historically significant, in addition to being a breathtaking spectacle.

    The enduring aura of the mother goddess with the recurring theme of divine feminine power or shakti, the love and faith of Her people, the colour and sheer scale of the festival, make for compelling viewing. Top-end production values, characteristic of HistoryTV18’s award-winning originals make the show a must-watch for all.

    Avinash Kaul, MD A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO Network18, says: “At HistoryTV18, we believe in telling stories that are visually spectacular, relevant for our viewers and genre-defining. ‘Meenakshi Amman & The Marvel of Madurai’ is the latest in a set of dramatic documentaries about India’s cultural history that engage, entertain, and inform. It is not just compelling content but also a celebration of our nation‘s rich diversity. The show does a great job of presenting the festival, especially in light of current circumstances, making it possible for everyone to be a part of the celebrations through our channel.”

  • Discovery garners 89% genre share on premiere of ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls & Superstar Rajinikanth’

    Discovery garners 89% genre share on premiere of ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls & Superstar Rajinikanth’

    MUMBAI: Discovery channel's premiere of Into The Wild with Bear Grylls & superstar Rajinikanth has created a record after the historic high touched by Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls & PM Modi. According to channel, the premiere on Discovery Network (across 12 Discovery channels) delivered highest-rated TV show in the genre this year so far and second highest ratings in the history of the genre delivering an impressive four million impressions. The cumulative reach of the premiere across network was 12.4 million, solid 86 per cent higher than the previous four weeks. The premiere helped the network garner 89 per cent share in the infotainment genre. The slot viewership grew five times as compared to previous four weeks.

    The simultaneous premiere of the show on regional entertainment brand DTamil grew the slot by 20 times and helped DTamil nudge ahead of leading channels including Colors Tamil, Jaya and Raj TV during the slot.

    The show created huge buzz on the social media with #ThalaivaOnDiscovery reaching out to 1.41 billion individuals delivering 3.32 billion impressions (Source: Meltwater)

    Into The Wild with Bear Grylls is an innovative new format inspired by Man Vs Wild, which is one of the most watched wilderness survival television series in the world. Last year, Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls & PM Modi episode disrupted the Indian media landscape, establishing itself as the TV event of the year. Other than prime minister Narendra Modi, Bear Grylls has also hosted prominent celebrities in the past such as then sitting American President Barack Obama, Kate Winslet, Roger Federer, Julia Roberts and many more.

  • Jeep India & Publicis Media launch show ‘Jeep Bollywood Trails’

    Jeep India & Publicis Media launch show ‘Jeep Bollywood Trails’

    MUMBAI: Jeep India & Publicis Media in a partnership today announced the launch of a television show Jeep Bollywood Trails, which will be aired on AXN, Max HD and will stream on Sony Liv starting 25 January 2020.

    Jeep Bollywood Trails is a travelogue, redefining India through Bollywood lens covering the famous locations & landscapes. The show features eminent Bollywood directors who narrate their stories through these locations & elaborate on what makes these spots iconic.

    The show also positions the legendary JeepSUV as the ultimate travel-machine, cruising effortlessly through the rugged hinterlands to reach bookmarked Bollywood locations. The show is powered up by Publicis Media’s Content Practice which executed the project end-to-end.

    Every place tells a story.  The show features a stellar list of film-makers such as Imtiaz Ali, Rohit Shetty, Raju Hirani, Nitesh Tiwari among others who relive the film experiences of the past, encapsulating their fondness for a particular location. The format is a richly-packed travelogue –featuring an eclectic mix of culture, lifestyle, music & adventure. 

    Jeep India head of marketing & PR Rahul Pansare said,  “Brand Jeep believes in taking the road less travelled and has explored innovative ideas to create enriching & evocative brand experiences. Jeep Bollywood Trails is a breakthrough, an incredibly exciting concept that channelizes the sheer firepower, passion & energy of the brand Jeep. It is the ultimate Bollywood journey with Jeep, which allows every viewer to relive the passion and adventure that stars experience across the myriad rich and vibrant filming locales. We thank Publicis Media & AXN for their efforts & contribution on this first-of-its-kind television property.”

    Starcom India CEO Rathi Gangappa said, “We are delighted to be at the forefront of this innovative & exciting property for Jeep. The Starcom HX approach is about human connections—experiences that people love and actions that brands need. Jeep Bollywood Trails is a big step in the same direction. The show is sure to be a resounding success among viewers, amplifying viral conversations & brand messaging and increasing the overall followership and popularity of the Jeep.”

    Publicis Media India content lead Urvashi Khanna said, “Jeep Bollywood Trails, in terms of creative execution & production quality surpasses the best travel & exploration shows. The show goes beyond brand integration, it’s a creative rendition of the brand pillars- adventure, freedom, passion, and authenticity. AXN was an obvious choice as the show fits the channel’s philosophy really well. We are looking at 360- degree brand promotion; the ideas are really innovative and first of its kind, to maximize the buzz around the show.”

  • Looking inside MTV Nishedh, an initiative to break social stigma

    Looking inside MTV Nishedh, an initiative to break social stigma

    MUMBAI: MTV is attempting to take the bull by its horns. With its new launch it aims to break the stigma around several health-related issues, make the youth aware about healthier social norms, talk about tabooed topics. The MTV Staying Alive Foundation has partnered with Viacom18 to bring a new campaign, “MTV Nishedh” to India. The campaign which has been adapted from The MTV Staying Alive Foundation’s multi-award-winning campaign ‘MTV Shuga', features a 13-episode fictional series.

    MTV Nishedh, produced by Mumbai-based production company Victor Tango, will premiere on MTV India starting 25 January every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 PM and on COLORS Rishtey starting 1 February, every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 pm. While youth audience will be targeted through MTV, Colors Rishtey will bring the message to a wider audience. MTV Nishedh will also be available anytime on VOOT.

    “The marketing budget will be skewed a little bit like this, but it will be based on what is required of the program. We will try and target the people whom we want to reach out to and therefore, we will use digital extensively,” Viacom 18 group CEO and MD Sudhanshu Vats said in a media roundtable while he was asked if marketing will be more digital-oriented.

    “We have to see as we go forward, so I think it's important. So basically, depending on how the first one performs, depending on how savvy we are with everything, depending on how committed all our partners are. I'm very hopeful they will be but I think it's incorrect for me to say as of now," Vats commented on the possibility of a second season.

    The MTV Staying Alive Foundation executive director and MTV Nishedh executive producer Georgia Arnold also explained how the research went on behind this project. Before starting off anything, they had a talk with the partners about the issues that partners are most concerned about. They also conducted a lot of formative researchs, and particularly in some of the key markets where they are trying to see a change. During focus group discussions with the youth,  they spoke about not only the issues but also about lifestyle. According to Arnold, all of these helped them to build a three dimensional picture of the audience that they are trying to reach.

    Moreover, the key story outline was also shared with young people unlike traditional research. The focus group’s inputs were also incorporated in the script. After the filming was done, the entire series was shown to them. In a unique way, the conversations that came up from watching the series was turned into a teaching guide.

    However, the social message will be delivered in an entertaining way to keep youth hooked to the show.

    Viacom18 also promotes social messages through Colors shows as well. “For primetime Colors, our challenge as of now is the ability to mount a more finite series in because I think India is still not ready for that. Because what happens is our series start building up in six to eight weeks, which is 30 to 40 episodes, whereas some of these shows are only those many in total. So, that is the challenge we have because most of our finite series are 100 or 150 episodes,” Vats answered while he was asked if the approaches are different for MTV initiatives. 

  • Travelxp launches in Romania’s via Telekom Romania

    Travelxp launches in Romania’s via Telekom Romania

    MUMBAI: Expanding its footprint in Europe, Travelxp has launched its operations in Romania from 1 January 2020. The channel will be shown on DTH and IPTV platforms of Telekom Romania, which is an integrated telecommunications company.

    As viewers in Romania enjoying global travel programmes from the comfort of their homes, Travelxp is becoming 100 per cent localised with subtitles in Romanian and keeping its commitment to connect with audiences in their own language.

    Travelxp managing director – Europe Sumant Bahl said: “The year 2019 has been an excellent year for the channel, and 2020 begins with a crucial partnership with Telekom Romania. We are excited to showcase 100% original travel documentary programming to the viewers of Romania, and to have the experience and explore the world on their television screens.”

    Meanwhile, Telekom Romania chief commercial officer, residential segment Andreas Elsner said: “By including Travel XP in our TV grids, we are providing our customers with exciting programmes, which will broaden their perspective on travel and will give them the opportunity to learn new things about different cultures and countries. Our partnership with Travel XP is valuable through the variety and quality of the broadcast content which we are certain that our customers will enjoy watching.”

    Travelxp is already localised in nine European languages and distributed in over 18 countries across Europe.

    Travelxp is an initiative of Celebrities Management Private Limited, India, and Media Worldwide Limited, UK with interests in broadcast, advertising, media consulting and other related services.