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Discovery’s six point agenda for 2015

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MUMBAI: The network has tripled itself in India in the last five years, and today operates in six unique genres through its robust portfolio of 11 networks reaching a cumulative 260 million homes in five languages.

We are talking about Discovery Networks, which extended its brand experience by launching Discovery Channel Magazine. It has expanded the business fuelled by marquee initiatives – new channels, unmatched India productions and marketing innovations.

And going forward, the network is going to focus on six points – maintain leadership across genres, maximise viewership, build on the strength of Discovery Kids; establish ID as a ‘must watch’ channel; deliver on ‘male-centric’ brand promise of Turbo; continue to produce path-breaking India content, continue to innovate; and deliver value to advertisers and relentlessly explore new opportunities for growth.

The year 2015 brings with it a heap of opportunities, but the path was laid in 2014 itself. The network revamped its channel, Turbo, to skew more towards men. The repositioning came in as a response to research conducted over the past couple of years.  “The viewers’ feedback and our constant research suggested a vacuum in English entertainment genre for men. Indian television has primarily been dominated by female led programming. The refreshed Turbo channel is an upscale men’s television network that provides high-octane programming for its viewers.  Turbo broadens its content with more genre mix to offer variety to its male audience.  It also enhances its value proposition for its viewers, advertisers and affiliates,” says Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific south Asia and southeast Asia executive VP and GM Rahul Johri.

One of the key reasons to rebrand was to widen the channel’s appeal. Its core strength will be variety.  “Turbo will be the only specialised content channel in the English genre, reflecting the promised benefits of digitisation.  The Indian television landscape is ever changing and we have stayed ahead of the curve by recognising the evolving trends and addressing them by creating new television genres and distinct audience segments,” he adds.

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With each brand having its own identity and evolution process, the network is continuously evaluating all its channels, and when need arises, it shall plan if others too need to be revamped or not.
Not only this, a surprise move for many in the industry, the network was able to get its recently-launched channel ID-Investigation in Tata Sky’s Hindi channel base pack. The move was to cater to Hindi speaking masses.  “The channel’s specialised content dedicated to crime and investigation has wider appeal.  In three months of its launch, ID has gained tremendous popularity, and has become an ideal ‘channel of choice’ for the base pack,” explains Johri when asked the reason behind the move.

Others like Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Discovery Science have wider demographic appeal and thus, are the preferred channels for viewers in the factual entertainment genre.  These channels too are in the base packs of DTH platforms.

Nonetheless, with TheOneAlliance, the distribution JV between Multi Screen Media (MSM) and Discovery Network, being dissolved with effect from 1 January 2015, after 12 long years, the network is pulling all strings to make the coming year a remarkable one.

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Kumar Mangalam Birla makes KBC debut with Amitabh Bachchan

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MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.

Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.

In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.

The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.

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The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

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Rocky heats up NCR as Road Trippin returns with winter bites

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MUMBAI: Winter’s bite just got tastier. Road Trippin With Rocky is back for its 15th season, with Rocky Singh rolling through the NCR to plate up comfort food, cult favourites and cold-weather cravings from 27 to 30 December.

The four-day journey opens in Noida, where Rocky kicks off with the much-loved Jain Tikki Wala in Sector 27 before wrapping the day at the always-humming Social. Faridabad follows, with stops shaped by local recommendations, while Gurugram brings a balance of indulgence and restraint from a standout vegetarian spread to smoky carnivore fare at The Pit, finished with Thai flavours at Banng.

Saving the grand finale for Delhi, Rocky dives into the capital’s contrasts from humble roadside falahar to refined fine-dining tables that define New Delhi’s evolving food scene. The promise is simple: honest recommendations that belong on every serious food lover’s list.

Over the years, #RoadTrippin has grown into one of HistoryTV18’s most successful digital-first properties. Built for viewers who snack on content on the move, the format’s easy humour, spontaneity and conversational style have kept audiences coming back season after season.

The numbers underline its pull. Across platforms, the franchise has clocked over 2 billion impressions and more than 550 million video views, turning each new season into a highly anticipated return.

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Season 15 of #RoadTrippinWithRocky will play out across HistoryTV18’s and Rocky’s social media handles, a winter road trip that proves once again that in NCR, the cold only makes the food hotter.

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Street of Stories Warner Bros doc amplifies GB Road’s unheard voices

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MUMBAI: The cries may have gone unheard, but the stories now refuse to stay silent. Warner Bros. Discovery and Times Network have come together to shine a piercing, humanising light on Delhi’s GB Road, one of India’s most stigmatised spaces with Unheard Cries at GB Road, a documentary that trades sensationalism for truth, and myth for lived reality. The film premiered on 17 November 2025 on discovery+, offering rare, unfiltered access to a world long discussed but rarely listened to.

Crafted under Times Now Studios and shaped by producer and co-writer Rohit Chadda, the documentary draws on over 50 in-depth interviews with survivors, sex workers, police officials, social workers and experts. Instead of dramatisation or stylised retellings, the film builds itself on first-hand accounts bringing to the fore women whose lives have often been spoken about, yet scarcely spoken to.

At its heart, Unheard Cries at GB Road is a testament to the women who battle cycles of trauma, exploitation and coercion, while still searching for small, stubborn pockets of hope. Their accounts, delivered on record and often at great personal risk, reveal the emotional, physical and psychological landscapes of a district too frequently flattened by stereotype.

Warner Bros. Discovery, head of factual entertainment, lifestyle & kids for South Asia,Sai Abishek said the project demanded both courage and care. “Unheard Cries at GB Road is a story that demands to be seen and heard. Factual storytelling carries responsibility, and this film embodies that commitment. By giving these women the space to speak for themselves, the documentary brings rare honesty and emotional depth to a subject too often misunderstood.”

The production team gained access to the interiors of brothels, capturing the quiet routines, the harsh constraints and the precarious negotiations that shape daily life. Insights from the Delhi Police, NGO workers and legal experts situate these personal stories within the larger systems of trafficking, safety failures and legal gaps that the women must navigate.

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Rohit Chadda said, “We made this film to confront a truth that has long remained ignored. Our commitment from the very beginning was to tell these stories with honesty, dignity, and responsibility – and we hope it resonates deeply enough to spark reflection, conversation, and a sense of hope, which results in long term change. Unheard Cries at GB Road is the first production under the banner of Times Now Studios, and we intend to build on this foundation by creating more meaningful, purpose-driven stories that deserve a platform and a voice.”

“This special documentary, produced under Times Now Studios and directed by Rohit Chadda and Yatharth Chauhan, is built on more than 50 in-depth interviews.”

While the documentary does not attempt to provide simple solutions, it offers something more vital, a vantage point grounded in truth. By presenting the voices of women who endure the unseen and the unimaginable on a daily basis, the film asks viewers to confront the complexity of GB Road with empathy rather than judgement.

Unheard Cries at GB Road is streaming now on discovery+, inviting the nation to listen truly listen to stories that can no longer remain in the shadows.    

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