Category: TV Shows

Q3: Christmas, New Year delays invoicing at DQ Entertainment

BENGALURU: Christmas and New Year holidays resulted in invoicing delays and hence lower revenue for the Tapas Chakravarti-led DQ Entertainment (International) Ltd, (DQE). The company says that though deliveries for some products had been completed before December 31, 2013, approvals from its customers were delayed on account of the holidays, hence invoices have been raised in the fourth quarter.

The company reported consolidated revenue of Rs 50.85 crore for Q3-2014, 11.5 per cent more than the Rs 45.59 crore in Q3-2013 and 10.1 per cent lower than Rs 56.58 crore in Q2-2014.YTD, revenue in 9M-2014 was down 2.1 per cent to Rs 137.85 crore in Q3-2014 from Rs 140.86 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, DQE reported revenue of Rs 229.05 crore.

DQE reported loss of Rs 1.24 crore in Q3-2014, against a profit of Rs 8.92 crore in Q3-2013 and a profit of Rs 22.72 crore in Q2-2014. YTD, for the nine month period ended December 31, 2013, DQE reported PAT of Rs 28.11 crore which was a little more than the double the Rs 14.01 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, DQE’s PAT was Rs 37.31 crore.

Let us look at the other Q3-2014 numbers reported for Q3-2014

Total expense (excluding finance cost) at Rs 38.59 crore in Q3-2014 was 27.7 per cent more than the Rs 27.39 crore in Q3-2013 and 40.9 per cent more than the Rs 26.04 crore in Q2-2014. YTD, Total expense fell 22.5 per cent to Rs 84.89 crore from Rs 109.57 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013 Total expense was Rs 168.83 crore.

The company’s finance cost in Q3-2014 went up by 36.3 per cent to Rs 7.18 crore from Rs 5.27 crore in Q3-2013 and went up by 13.9 per cent from Rs 6.30 crore in Q2-2014. Finance Cost on a YTD basis was up 24.4 per cent to Rs 18.5 crore in Q3-2014 from Rs 14.87 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, DQE paid Rs 20.94 crore towards Finance Cost.

The company’s Employee expense in Q3-2014 at Rs 18.64 crore was (12.9) per cent lower than the Rs 21.41 crore in Q3-2013 and 14.0 per cent lower than the Rs 19.74 crore in Q2-2014. In 9M-2014, Employee expense was 12.8 per cent down to Rs 58.61 crore from Rs 67.21 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, Employee expense was Rs 87.58 crore.

Its other expense was up 26.9 per cent in Q3-2014 to Rs 8.26 crore from Rs 6.51 crore in Q3-2013 and was lower by 30.2 per cent from the Rs 11.83 crore in Q2-2014. Other expense was up 50.5 per cent to Rs 26.43 crore in 9M-2014 from Rs 17.57 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, other expense was Rs 25.02 crore.

The company’s animation segment reported a 11.5 per cent drop in operating revenue in Q3-2014 to Rs 30.11 crore from Rs 34.03 crore in Q3-2013 and was 27.9 per cent lower than the Rs 41.77 crore in Q-2014. YTD, the company’s Animation segment reported operating revenue of Rs 98.18 crore which was 5.8 per cent more than the Rs 92.84 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, this segment reported revenue of Rs 170.09 crore.

Animation segment reported an operating profit of Rs 13.79 crore in Q3-2014, 17.6 per cent lower than the Rs 16.72 crore in Q3-2013 and 46.1 per cent lower than the Rs 25.59 cores in Q2-2014. In 9M-2014, the segment reported operating profit of Rs 50.84 crore which was 31.5 per cent more than the Rs 38.67 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, this segment reported operating profit of Rs 97.52 crore.

DQE’s other segment – distribution reported revenue of just Rs 0.69 crore in Q3-2014 as compared to the Rs 10.92 crore in Q3-2013 and the Rs 13.62 crore in Q2-2014. YTD, the segment’s operating revenue fell 14.3 per cent to Rs 15.3 crore from Rs 17.84 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, this segment reported revenue of Rs 28.72 crore.

The segment reported a loss of Rs 3.99 crore for the current quarter as compared to a profit of Rs 7.51 crore in Q3-2013 and Rs 7.6 crore in Q2-2014. Over the nine month period ended December 31, 2013, the segment reported a 63.6 per cent drop in operating profit to Rs 1.75 crore from Rs 4.8 crore in 9M-2013. For FY 2013, Distribution segment reported operating loss of Rs 2.64 crore.

DQE’s reported an unallocated expense of Rs 11.54 crore in Q3-2014, which was 58.3 per cent more than the Rs 7.29 crore in Q3-2013 and almost four times the Rs 2.8 crore in Q2-2014.

The company states that its current order book stands at Rs 410 crore.

Says Chakravarti, “There is a clear upsurge in the economy of North America, however the economic slowdown in Europe still continues. DQE is making all efforts in North America to take benefit of increased demand for TV and movie content in animation, hybrid presentations as well as pure live action. This is evident from our advanced negotiations with production houses in the USA.”

“DQE with its track record of international high quality productions such as ‘Little Prince’, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Jungle Book, Peter Pa, The Penguins of Madagascar, etc., should benefit from this renewed demand. The industry is also witnessing an increase for Visual Effects (VFX) content for animated feature films, live action thrillers & action films and Sci-Fi films from Hollywood, Europe and Japan. This will help DQE take advantage of its capabilities and trusted name for CGI/VFX production in USA and Europe. Our intellectual properties are also gathering momentum worldwide,” added Chakravarti.

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February 17, 2014
Zee to bring bachchagiri with DID L’il Masters

MUMBAI: Dancing isn’t just about mean moves; it’s also about attitude. This is the reason why Zee TV is all set to bring back DID (Dance India Dance) L’il Masters, now in its third season, to replace the ongoing DID season four.

Starting 1 March, children aged five to 12 years will mesmerise audiences with their awe-inspiring performances every weekend at 9 pm. This time round, the show positioning is: ‘from dadagiri to bachchagiri’.

Zeel content head (Hindi GECs) Ajay Bhalwankar, who recently resigned from his post, explains: “Though the world is heavily borrowed from dadagiri, bachchagiri in no way gives any leeway to over-smartness or cockiness. Kids aren’t show-offs but they do have a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude when it comes to dance. They aren’t afraid of a little competition and stage fear means nothing to them.”

Says Nitin Keni of Essel Vision Productions, producer of the show: “These are genuinely gifted children and little powerhouses of talent who astonished us with their unimaginable talent. Along with entertainment, Zee and Essel Vision have always endeavored to become the most coveted platform for aspiring youth and women in the country and with the third season of DID L’il masters, we only hope to strengthen that conviction of ours.”

Season three will follow a similar format with 16 contestants divided into four teams led by skippers including Sanam Johar, Raghav (Crockroaz) and Swarali Karulkar (DID 4 contender) with the fourth name still under consideration. Masters Geeta Kapoor, Ahmad Khan and Mudassar Khan will judge the performances while veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty (Mithun Da) will once again lend his characteristic wit to the platform. Hosting the show would be popular television actor Jay Bhanushali.

So what’s the talking point of this season? “We, as a channel, don’t have to do anything new. Of course, we have plans to think about new dance forms, acts and visuals but what is really new is a fresher mind, fresher and more original talent. Kids are typically very informal; they have a mind of their own and when they perform, they completely rock the stage,” says Bhalwankar before adding, “I couldn’t have imagined some of the steps they ended up doing during the auditions.”

He lavishes praise on the talent possessed by these kids. “They can change the format and mould it; they can mould their performance… We have to give them a format which allows them freedom. Bachchagiri is a format for us, and the entire control has been given to the kids,” he says.

According to Zeel new programming head Namit Sharma, who assumed responsibility only yesterday, season three is a lot about evolution. “Lil masters is a very unique show. It is fun, engaging, heartwarming and at the same time, inspirational, because you are watching these kids doing all the fantastic moves. This year, we are keen on seeing the kids grow and evolve rather than just contestants in a reality show,” he says.

Already, dancing fever has gripped the nation with auditions being held in 15 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Vadodara, Jaipur, Raipur, Indore, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Patna, Jammu and Lucknow. The number of participants has risen 25 per cent from last year’s one lakh contestants. After more than four months of auditioning, 100 children have been selected, of which, 16 finalists will be selected in mega auditions being held this week.

Speaking of her experience, Kapoor said: “Judging kids was a tough call. We had to be easy with them. However, each and every child is a winner for us. We don’t treat them as contestants but as normal kids.”

While Khan felt their main job was to console the kids who’d been rejected in the auditions phase. “Somewhere down the line, they are conditioned to the fact that they are here to get popularity. They don’t come with a positive mind that they will get selected,” he said.

On their part, the skippers said they enjoyed choreographing the ‘patakas’

Johar, a contestant of DID season three, said: “It’s very interesting to choreograph kids. After becoming a skipper, you can’t show or teach them moves which are repetitive; we have to do something new. Instead of getting scared, we have to be prepared to do something innovative.” Raghav, who is famous for his slo-mo style said: “It is all in nature. You get to learn a lot from your surroundings. We don’t have to teach anything to the kids creatively. Get them on stage, and they will burn the dance floor. They are very smart. Plus, they come prepared.”

Industry sources say the channel is looking at anything between Rs 180 and Rs 190 crore from DID L’il Masters season three with anything between Rs 1,20,000 and Rs 1,80,000 for every 10 seconds.

Marketing and promotion

A 360-degree marketing plan is on the anvil comprising outdoor, print, television and radio to sustain audience interest in the property. As part of on-ground, children will form special ‘Dhating Naach Tolis’ and visit various housing societies in Mumbai and Delhi to play Holi with the residents as a mark of the festival.

Vignettes have been created for television where kids will sometimes be seen talking about a show before it starts and encouraging the audience to see it. On the digital side, there are plans to create a hashtag #DIDLM for greater engagement with the viewers.

No doubt the show will face tough competition from the ongoing India’s Got Talent on Colors and the upcoming Mad in India on Star Plus. While Mad in India is a 75,000 per 10 sec slot, IGT is 1.25 lakh. But with the last season having opened at 5.8 TVR, Bhalwankar remains unfazed. “When kids come to the show, they have a ball. I don’t think we will need masala to get ratings or eyeballs. Other people can worry,” he laughs.

February 11, 2014
Star Plus to air ‘Ishq Kills’ Sunday primetime

MUMBAI: Given the importance of primetime, most Hindi general entertainment channels would steer clear of risqué content in this slot. However, as the leader in the Hindi GEC category, Star Plus continues to be an exception to the rule.

Back in 2010, the channel introduced adult-themed shows such as Maryada – Aakhir Kab Tak and Kaali – Ek Agnipariksha during late primetime. Once again, it is all set to air a new show, Ishq Kills every Sunday at 10:00 pm, starting 16 February.

The one hour show will enact crimes of passion that have taken place in the country. Statistics reveal that most crimes in India are committed either for love or for money, and Ishq Kills will be the first show to highlight those where love is involved.

While the Star spokesperson was unavailable for comment, sources close to the development said the show is based on true events and will wrap up in 26 episodes. Produced by Rowdy Rascals of Savdhaan India fame, Star Plus has roped in film producer-director Vikram Bhatt to host the show.

The show promo doing the rounds of all the Star Network channels has already generated a lot of curiosity. It shows a married man sleeping with his housekeeper and when he professes his love for her, she asks him to “prove it” by “killing memsaab”

While there is no dearth of crime-based shows on Hindi GECs, going by the promo, the show definitely carries the promise of standing out from the rest. Then again, it is in for some serious competition from Colors’ Comedy Nights with Kapil (CNWK), which has almost become a brand unto itself.

Will the show work its magic on Star Plus?

Says a media professional who doesn’t wish to be named: “This is the time when the whole family sits and watches either movies or shows which refresh their mind. However, thriller-based shows have never worked for Star after some point of time. Moreover, the series is competing with CNWK which is already a brand now and people block 10:00 pm for it. I think CNWK will eat up all its ratings as the loyal audiences have already been built in this slot.”

According to another media professional, primetime in GECs has grown nearly 20-25 per cent in the past few months which proves there are viewers available as also the potential for growth.

With competitors like Fear Files on Zee TV and Savdhaan India on Life OK, only time will tell who is going to have the last laugh!

February 7, 2014
‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ to return soon in a repackaged avatar

MUMBAI: “When you burst the blocks of your life, a blockbuster is created,” says filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who after giving blockbusters like the Golmaal franchise and Chennai Express is set to take on a new role that of a TV show host. The director, who is known for reviving the action genre on the celluloid, will be hosting the fifth edition of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi with the tagline “Dar Ka Blockbuster”.

As the tagline suggests, the show is going to burst the fear blocks of 12 celebrities in its upcoming edition, the announcement was made amid much fanfare in the city last night. The show is set to return on the General Entertainment Channel – Colors after almost two years. With a changed format that will see 12 celebrities and no commoners, the show will be shot in Cape Town, South Africa over a month.

“Few people from the production team are already in South Africa to make sure that the pre-production work is all done and set,” says Endemol India CEO Deepak Dhar, who is producing the show. Another group is ready to fly next week with the contestants.

The last season of the show that premiered on Colors in June 2011 was also shot in South Africa. Dhar says that the country has been chosen again because the Endemol South Africa team is really well-equipped and would be helpful in coming out with a season full of adrenaline-rushing adventure.

Dhar describes this season as a “really mean season” as the level of stunts have just gone up and the animals coming on the show are going to add to it. “With Rohit on board, the scale of the show has elevated. Plus, some of the best stunts from the Fear Factor US have been replicated,” he says.

To give the audience a close view of what a contestant is going through while in a box full of cockroaches or a cage full of snakes, multiple cameras will be used. “Go Pro cameras, fly cameras and a lot of other hi-tech devices will be used to capture all the actions in the best possible way,” says Dhar.

However, it is not so much about the technique in terms of filming as much as it is technique in terms of stunting, he remarks.

But considering the varied types of stunts, a lot of new techniques have also been used to capture them. “The kinds of stunts we have picked up this time are varied in nature. We have chopper stunts, car stunts, bike stunts, underwater stunts besides a lot of other interesting activities that will make the show really entertaining,” says Colors Weekend programming head Manisha Sharma, adding that the show will be packed with edgy content and will explore some of the most interesting locales of South Africa.

Dhar says the budget has also gone up by about 20 per cent as compared to the last season. While he doesn’t disclose the figure, a reliable source from the channel informs the production of a non-fiction show like this costs approximately 50-60 crore.

Hitherto, the slot hasn’t been decided as the production is yet to begin. “That’s a discussion that going on internally as well,” says Colors CEO Raj Nayak when we quizzed him if KKK is going to replace India’s Got Talent. However, for the time-being what is fixed is that the show will be aired during the weekends.

The last season was aired after Indian Premiere League got over. However, Nayak thinks that since cricket has become a year-round affair, it isn’t a threat for the show. “We may start the telecast alongside IPL,” he says as he remarks that if big budget Bollywood movies that were not released during the IPL season earlier can be released then KKK can also be telecast. However, if it runs parallel to the IPL, the channel may think of running a ticker with the score of the cricket match being played on that day.

Nayak says that discussions about the advertisers and sponsors are still on. However, the channel is expecting good sponsorship deals. “Our sponsors come last as we ask for lots of money and a lot of negotiations go on,” he quips.

Media planners think there shouldn’t be a problem in getting interesting deals for a show like KKK. Madison Media Sigma COO Vanita Keswani thinks that since the show is coming back after a gap, the interest of the viewers as well as the advertisers around it will be enthusiastic.

“The telecast of a format year after year leads to decaying of the idea. A break is good as it would bring certain rejuvenation,” she says and adds the show already has a brand name that will work for it. As far as the sponsors and advertisers are concerned, Keswani thinks that till the time the content of a show is good, they will put in their money. “Any way, these days the advertisers look for better content and not ratings as ratings may or may not come in even if the show is good,” she remarks.

Contestants who will be vying to conquer their phobias comprise Ranvir Shorey, Nikitin Dheer, Mugdha Godse, Dayanand Shetty, Rajniesh Duggall, Rochelle Maria Rao, Gauahar Khan, Kushal Tandon, Pooja Gor, Mahhi Vij, Salman Khan and Geeta Tandon.

January 31, 2014
‘Roadies XI’ is back with a bang

MUMBAI: The mother of all reality shows – MTV Hero Roadies – is back with Season XI which promises to be one heck of a roller coaster ride.

With the tagline ‘Ride for Respect’, the new season is slated to hit TV screens on Saturday, 25 January at 7pm. The adventure will see seven boys and seven girls bike riding from desert to desert, starting with Sun City Jodhpur and culminating in the Rann of Kutch. Leading the pack will be the winner of season I of MTV Roadies, Rannvijay Singh and MTV Roadies producer, Raghu Ram.

Hero continues to be the title sponsor for the show. Whereas, the channel has roped in nine associate sponsors on-board including brands like CEAT, Mountain Dew, Spraymintt mouth freshener, Karbonn tablets among others.

Significantly, the new edition of MTV Roadies is all about performance sans the vote outs and group politics. So, all 14 contestants will have to prove their mettle through challenging tasks and only their track record through the show journey will get them closer to winning the title.

“Every year, we try to conceptualise the theme of the show around a trending youth sentiment. It is not just about the show, audiences connect with the Roadies’ spirit of never backing down, perseverance and standing tall against all odds. We are pushing the envelope further this year by making the central theme all about the Roadies’ spirit and confidence,” says MTV India head marketing and insights Sumeli Chatterji. “So, while competition will be more intense and tasks will be more challenging; there will be no vote outs and no group politics. Every candidate will have an equal chance to show his or her mettle and win.”

The reason for going ahead with the no vote-out format, producer and judge Raghu Ram says that it is just to be fair. “In the past, many have complained that deserving contestants are voted out. While for me vote out is an interesting situation, we have been blamed for encouraging politics and thus we have done away with the vote out system altogether.”

But it doesn’t mean there won’t be any eliminations – a lot of other things will be introduced to make the show interesting and unpredictable.

Says MTV India EVP and business head Aditya Swamy: “This year on Roadies, we have seven boys and seven girls and they will have an absolutely equal chance in the Ride for Respect. Fresh twists in the format have made Roadies India’s longest-running reality show and this year’s format breaker ensures survival only of the fittest.”

Raghu, who usually gives goosebumps to the contestants with his stringent remarks, thinks that the reason behind the year after year success of the game is the love of the audience and the sheer belief that the show is a life changer for many. He remarks: “The show has made adventure and bikes a household name in India. The ten years have seen over five million hopefuls, grueling auditions, tough tasks and deserving winners. The new edition is all geared up to introduce an absolutely new avatar to everyone. What I can promise you is a triple dose of thrill, action and a lot more drama.”

However, when quizzed about the flak the show has got in the past for the use of abusive language, Raghu shots back and says: “I think much has been spoken about the language and it is time people should get over it. Language is not a problem because it is a reality show. Still, this year I have tried to make sure that there is no abusive language used from my end and the focus transforms to that instead of the other things in the show.”

Apart from auditions in Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh and Pune, this year, the channel also tapped Hyderabad and Kolkata. Also, an all-India audition was conducted online.

Marketing and promotion

This year, the strategy is not only about driving reach across the target audience but also engaging with consumers across various touch points.

A college connect program targeted at over 200 colleges sees Raghu and Rannvijay visiting the colleges and integrating with college festivals and college bike rallies across cities. “Our attempt is to integrate Roadies with city-specific events like Marathon in Pune, partnerships with malls, hangouts and clubs,” says Chatterji.

The channel is reaching out to over 150 power towns across UP and Gujarat through several BTL activations.

Roadies is active on social media as well with nearly 20 million visitors on its micro-site and around 7.8 million fans on Facebook. According to Chatterji, the last season clocked 65 million views online and was the most subscribed YouTube channel for a TV show.

Season XI will be consumed by fans through TV episodes, web episodes, on-ground events and Roadies’ branded merchandise including sunglasses, shoes and bags.

Besides, the brain behind the show, Raghu, has penned a memoir of his over-a-decade-long journey titled Rearview: My Roadies Journey, which explores the bright and not-so-bright side of this ride. Launched in Bangalore recently, the autobiography is available at Crosswords bookstores.

Verdict

All said, with so many youth-oriented shows from the same channel, what makes Roadies the brand it is? “This is a journey where the underdog can emerge a winner if he survives the game. This series generates intense emotions, not only from the participants and judges but also from the audience. The eliminations, tasks, contestants are always a topic of debate. You can love it, or hate it… but the youth can never ignore Roadies. This drives the social buzz and fan following,” says Chatterji.

However, a media planner says: “There are a lot of youth reality shows on Indian television today. No doubt, Roadies has gained popularity over the years but people now want to see some fresh shows. Though, it’s a good property for advertisers to invest in as the show has a brand value. Having said that, it’s not really going to grab enough eyeballs as the choice of the youngsters has evolved and they would like to watch something new rather than run-of-the-mill stuff.”

However, Raghu thinks that the TG identifies with the format. “The show is very young at heart. It explores human emotions very interestingly. It is not about the tasks, not about the vote-outs, but about facing circumstances and adapting to different dynamics.”

Roadies will be competing with shows like Emotional Atyachar: Love, Shaq aur Dhoka on Bindaas and the repeat telecast of Dil Dosti Dance (D3) on Channel V. Media analysts think that the show doesn’t really have a competition as nothing close to the similar format will be on air on the rival channels.

January 22, 2014
‘Satyamev Jayate 2’ to kick start soon

MUMBAI: He isn’t the Mr Strategist and Perfectionist of Bollywood for no reason. This time around actor Aamir Khan has made sure that the second season of his TV show – Satyamev Jayate, the shooting of which began recently, remains in the news throughout the year.

The season one of the show highlighted the social evils and also brought to the light the sufferings that people at large go through because of those. While the second edition is again set to bring forth the evils of the Indian society that’s becoming a hindrance in the country’s growth, the actor has devised a plan to give the audience enough time to execute the ideas promoted through the show in reality. The 12-episode show, this time, would be presented in installments – four episodes at the beginning of the year, four mid-year and the last four at the year end.

While the other details are still being worked upon, what has come out is that the season is set to kick start soon with an episode focusing on the plight of rape victims. The episode has already been shot at the Yash Raj Studios and the actor has requested the audience present at the shoot to keep the details to themselves.

The TV audience are set to witness some life-changing incidents, it seems.

January 14, 2014
Colors bets bigger with India’s Got Talent 5

MUMBAI: It is said that emotions sell. It seems so right in the case of Viacom18 Hindi GEC Colors’ talent show India’s Got Talent (IGT) where the emotional stories clubbed with exceptional talent led it to win the Best Entertainment Programme at the Asian TV Awards 2013.

But while its fourth edition was high on pullling viewers’ heart strings, the fifth edition that begins on 11 January at 9:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday, promises to bring out not just the contestants’ emotional journeys but also oodles of undiscovered talent from the different corners of India.

Based on the international format, Britian’s Got Talent owned by FremantleMedia, the channel says that the endeavour this year has been to find talent that would defy the dimensions of a stage through acrobatic, aquatic and circus acts besides many other scintillating performances.

IGT’s auditions began much earlier in June and the number of cities and towns where the team scouted for new skilled contestants ballooned to 45, with their number of auditions also rising 45 per cent. Viewers will get to see familiar faces as judges: old-timer Kirron Kher is very much there for her fifth season; Karan Johar (in his second season) and and Malaika Arora Khan, who, in the last edition, had to leave midway to make way for Farah Khan (however, this time she assures she will definitely continue till the finale).

Also, there are two new hosts – stand-up comics and artiste Bharti Kher and Mantra who with different avatars every week will add a tinge of humour to the proceedings. What’s new this year is also the Golden Buzzer – which the judges can press to give a participant a direct route to the semi-finals. And since there’s a lot more being packed in this edition, it is no surprise that production budget has escalated. FremantleMedia India head of commercial & and operations Vidyuth Bhandary says it is up more than 25 per cent.

“Since we are exploring uncharted talent, the investment in everything has scaled up. The dimension of the show has changed with the inclusion of performances on water and circus besides other platforms. It required us to leave the studio and build separate sets so that the contestants could show their talent,” says Bhandary.

A source from the industry informs that the last edition of the show was produced in a budget of around Rs 23-24 crore and thus an estimated Rs 30-32 crore is being sunk in this time around.

“India’s Got Talent is our flagship property which has grown exponentially season-after-season thereby attracting larger participation individuals across the country” says FremantleMedia India managing director Anupama Mandloi. “Our team has worked together endlessly in an endeavor to showcase the creativity and enthusiasm which further adds to the scale and grandeur of the show.”

On view will be perfromers from 3 to 80 years with stunts that include pole dancing, basketball, para-gliders, synchronised swimming, fire jumping and diffusive neon painting.

According to Bhandary, it is one of the most difficult shows from the production point of view. “It is not controlled like other reality shows. The size of a talent group varies from two to more than hundred people and managing the logistics gets really difficult at times,” he says, also adding that the production team includes a specialised crew that can handle any critical situation should it arise.

“Since we have increased the variety of talent on the show, we have also scaled up the safety measures. Like during the water act, we had four divers ready to help in case of an emergency. There’s a fire marshal, ambulance, stunt team always in place. We make sure that the precautionary measures are always in place,” he adds.

Promotional budgets too have been hiked. So if the channel’s marketing team has drawn up a well-thought digital campaign, the on-ground activities and campaigns on other mediums are no less.

Colors digital head Vivek Srivastava says that the digital campaign is divided in two parts, the first starts with a unique Twitter Concert before the show’s launch.

“Starting tomorrow, we start our two-day crowdsourcing activity for which we are inviting our Twitter followers to compose lines around the show using the hashtag #IGTTwitterConcert. The final composition would then be taken forward and sung as a song by a band. The final song will be launched with the show on 11 January,” he says, adding that the idea is to engage the audience completely.

The second phase begins after the show goes on air. “In that, through different mediums, we would promote the talent on the show with their stories,” says Vivek.

Even on radio, two innovative campaigns have been designed. While an Acapella act will be presented by this season’s participant, Ki Umjer that will be aired across radio stations and cities to showcase the international caliber of talent that will feature on the show, another one in association with Red FM will bring together 30 RJs from across the country in Mumbai.

“The RJs will tell the stories of the talented individuals who reside in their cities,” says Colors marketing head Rajesh Iyer.

Another on-ground activity is planned at Mumbai’s famed Churchgate station that will take place just before the on-air launch.

“It will give the common public a chance to show the talent in them,” says Iyer, adding that the overall outreach programme involves 3500+ spots on television, ads in 50 plus edition of key print publications, over 8,000 radio spots, OOH covering 100 towns and DTH imprints.

“Since our target audience includes everyone from young to old, we have planned these extensive campaigns to pull in maximum number of viewers,” he says. IGT’s concept is very different from any other show currently on air on any other channel. Unlike other reality shows that focus on one particular talent like singing or dancing, this one gives a viewer a varied variety. But still competition is competition. And that seemed to have touched one of the judges Karan Johar too. Karan whose celebrity chat show, Koffee With Karan airs on Sunday at the same time slot on Star World. He jokingly asked the media during the press conference which show would they prefer to watch him on – IGT or KWK? Karan didn’t get a straight answer but Iyer on a lighter note quipped, “We don’t compete with Koffee With Karan.”

However, he doesn’t dismiss competition with other GECs when they all are running reality shows at the same time slot – Zee TV has its most popular property – Dance India Dance 4, Star Plus has Nach Baliye 6 and Sony has Boogie Woogie. “But we can’t be threatened by that. What we have got to do, we have got to do,” he says.

Colors’ weekend programming head Manisha Sharma seconds and adds, “Every show says that they are different. But we have done well and have grown year after year because of our differentiated content. It’s the diverse talent that we bring on our show that works.”

IGT kick-starts its first episode with Bollywood’s favourite leading lady Madhuri Dixit-Nene who will join the judging panel while sharing inspirational stories and anecdotes with the participants. Subsequent episodes will also feature special guests including Remo D’souza, Manish Paul amongst many others.

IGT’s advertisers include Maruti Suzuki for the presented by tag, it is powered by L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 and associate sponsors include Tata Ace and Amul Macho.

And it isn’t just that the Colors and Fremantle team that’s oozing with confidence this season, even industry experts have given IGT the thumbs up. Lodestar UM’s vice president Deepak Netram says it has a huge appeal because of the kind of talent it brings. “The promo of a girl with an amputated leg has already sent shockwaves. It has raised the expectations and the curiosity both. The promos have build up the excitement around the show. There’s shock value along with emotional backing and it’s something really to look forward to,” he remarks.

Weekends for Colors’ fans obviously aren’t going to be the same.

January 8, 2014
Mr. Men ‘Tickles’ you fashionably this Laughter Day

MUMBAI: Laughter is the music of the soul and who better to celebrate it than with Mr. Tickle on Laughter Day which falls on January 10, 2014. The deal for the Mister Men products have been put together by Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd., a premier Indian licensing firm with rights to represent some of the most iconic brands in the world like Angry Birds, FIFA, WWE, DreamWorks Animation among others.

Mr. Tickle is the first book in the Mr.Men series by Roger Hargreaves, an English author and illustrator of children’s books since 1971. The character, Mr. Tickle, is lively and funny with wiggly arms ready to tickle people in authority for humour. In India, Mr. Men is available across apparel for infants, kids, adults and Publishing. The Back to School and Loungewear is slated to launch in February 2014.

The Mister Men apparel range for kids has a wide variety of clothes in funky colours and patterns. Mr. Tickle with his naughty smile, wiggly hands and funny quotes is the perfect choice for Laughter Day. The Mister Men collection has clothes for both boys and girls. With bright, cheerful colours and tickling quotes, Mr. Tickles is surely going to be a laughing buddy for your little ones and tickle your kids funny bone. Mr. Tickle merchandise for girls and boys is available at leading stores and online portals like Jabong.com, Myntra.com and Flipkart.com with t-shirts ranging from Rs 200 onwards.

“Mr. Tickle is the funniest and naughtiest of characters, tickling kids’ imagination and is the perfect mascot for Laughter Day. The Mister Men collection will definitely put a smile on kids faces and is available in a enviable range of colours and prints. Mr. Tickle is sure to connect with kids instantly on Laughter day,” says Jiggy George, CEO and Founder, Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd.

January 7, 2014
Nat Geo presents ‘A Short Story of a Long Pipeline’

MUMBAI: Have you ever found yourself intrigued by the ease with which you turn a knob on your stove and gas flows out? Ever felt curious about the origins of the fuel that you fill your car with, ever so often? Have you ever found yourself wondering about the lifeline of an entire nation? On 12th January 2014, National Geographic Channel, in association with Cairn India, will give you the opportunity to witness the realities of the fuel that drives our lives, on “A Short Story of a Long Pipeline”.

A half-hour special documenting the resurrection of a jaw-dropping ~700 km long pipeline by Cairn India Limited, the film takes a look at the completion of the mammoth project that would be the resolution to the ultimate challenge faced by the biggest onshore oil discovery in India in the last 25 years. And while the engineers must put their skills to test in order to build a technological marvel that would have to ferry crude oil through the extreme weather of the Thar Desert, what makes the entire task even more daunting is that ~700 km of the line would make up the longest heated section of pipeline in the world.

Speaking on the spirit of technology innovation that led to building this pipeline, Dr. Sunil Bharati, Head – Corporate Affairs and Communication, Cairn India, said, “Technological innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Cairn. This is aptly showcased by the technical ingenuity involved in building the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated pipeline – the Mangala Development Pipeline. The pipeline passes through two states and eight districts to transport precious crude oil from our Rajasthan block to various oil refineries, and in the process, brings the nation closer to its dream of attaining energy security. The Mangala Development Pipeline highlights Cairn India’s expertise in quick project delivery against all odds, apart from being the fastest growing energy company in the world.”

Talking about the documentary, in light of the energy crisis, Ms. Debarpita Banerjee, Vice President, Marketing, National Geographic and FOX International Channels, said, “The global energy demands are on the rise and its impact shall be more on developing countries such as India. At a time like this, for Cairn India to have spearheaded the process of providing access to India’s monumental onshore oil discovery is genuinely commendable. We, at Nat Geo, are excited about being privy to this extraordinary event and giving our viewers the exclusive opportunity to witness history being made.”

From the finer details & intricacies, to the realization of the entire construction process, catch it all on “A Short Story of a Long Pipeline” premiering on Sunday, the 12th of January 2014 at 6 PM only on National Geographic Channel.

January 6, 2014
‘Bigg Boss 7’ was unique in many ways!

MUMBAI: The end of the year 2013 seemed to be really good for the general entertainment channel Colors. One of its biggest properties of the year, Bigg Boss7, reportedly made on a big budget of 115 crore, not just got it audiences’ attention but also took its tally a notch higher in the ratings chart. The show was high on viewership throughout the season, however it was its finale episode on 28 December that added the cherry on the cake.

Interestingly, the finale of the reality show became “phenomenon” according to Colors’ weekend programming head Manisha Sharma. “It had all the makings of a ‘masaledaar’ blockbuster including power-packed performances by the contestants and the host Salman Khan himself. This season has been the most watched, most buzzed and most trended season of all times. We are ecstatic with the response that the Grand Finale has garnered, not only in terms of TVTs but also with the kind of conversations that were generated across social media platforms,” says Sharma about the show that garnered 9,577 TVTs in the week 52 of TAM TV ratings.

Many things have worked for the reality show that went on for 104 days unlike 96 days in the earlier editions. From a unique contestant mix, a fresh look and feel of the house, two different living conditions with the hell and heaven concept, to unique tasks and inclusion of an adorable pet – Heaven as a friend and confidant, just added to the show. “We have pushed the boundaries to raise the entertainment quotient of the show. The combination of all these elements have made the seventh season of Bigg Boss as one of the most popular season with the audiences,” says Sharma.

It wasn’t easy for the team working behind the show to put everything together in place. Endemol’s (the show’s production house) MD Deepak Dhar says the process of planning and casting for the show begins much before it goes underway. “The moment one season is over, our casting team starts short listing contestants for the next season,” says Dhar, who remarks that a total of almost 500 people were involved in the production of the show out of which 420-430 persons were stationed in Lonavala where the 10,500 sq ft Bigg Boss house designed by Omag Kumar was located.

“While managing the production crew has been a big HR exercise, what has worked in our favour in all the seasons is that the crew is really enthusiastic and are on its toes 24/7 to come across that one moment that could make the episode fun and entertaining,” says Dhar.

For the recently concluded season, the crew could see the action unfolding in the house from the 147 windows in the house from where the 80 cameras were also placed in the camera galli(a dark alley that surrounds the periphery of the house and supply the editors with constant feed about what is going on inside). “There was a projection control room where the story editor sat with his team of 15 editors as they ran through the 24 hours of footage on a daily basis and edited it to a short episode of 44 minutes. With so many different elements, the USP of the show remains the editors who work on 12 hour shifts to ensure that all key moments and happenings are captured within the 44 minute time frame of the episode,” says Sharma.

Dhar seconds and adds, “It is like a newsroom. There’s never a moment in the house that we can afford to miss.”

There used to be a lot of hustle bustle for the weekend episodes for which host Salman Khan visited the house. In fact, there was an additional crew of around 100 people to take care of things during the shooting of the weekend episodes.

This season, according to both Dhar and Sharma was very unique. Sharma says each day in this season was unique in its own way. “Emotions like friendship, hostility, jealousy, love that manifested within the contestants set the stage for an engaging viewing experience. There were some tasks that pushed the contestants to achieve targets that they had not even considered. The biggest example of this is the fact that two of the contestants – Sangram Singh and Kamya Punjabi broke the international Big Brother record by staying under a box for more than 50 hours.”

Dhar, who has been personally involved in the production process over the years, says that this season they knew how to handle the difficult situations that cropped during the show. “Our 24/7 security team assures that there’s no complication on-location,” he says when quizzed about handling the situations when contestants got in to a brawl with each other, or threatened to jump off the fence etc.

“Our teams are extremely alert and over the seasons have learnt how to handle on-ground situations. Our primary prerogative is to ensure that the contestants follow the rules of the game as well as remain safe throughout their stay inside the Bigg Boss house. For this, we have Bigg Boss who steps in as the ultimate authority inside the house. He guides the contestants and ensures that harmony is maintained,” adds Sharma.

While it’s too early to say anything for the next edition, Dhar remarks that they are going to make the show bigger and better. “It’s going to be a new challenge,” he concludes

January 4, 2014