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Tag: 9X Media

  • Media icon & film producer Pradeep Guha no more

    Media icon & film producer Pradeep Guha no more

    Mumbai: Media and entertainment industry veteran Pradeep Guha has passed away on Saturday. He was in his late 60s.

    Guha was battling advanced liver cancer and was admitted at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. He is survived by his wife Papia and son Sanket.

    Guha was the managing director at 9X Media. Previously, he was chief executive officer at ZEE Telefilms. He was also associated with Times of India for nearly three decades. He produced the Bollywood film ‘Fiza’.

    Many veterans of the M&E industry paid tribute to Guha on social media.

    “Brevity, clarity, speed characterised Pradeep Guha. Like his simple signature, that was but a tick mark, as if it meant ‘just go ahead and do it’. Aim high, set quality standards, inspire the team and just do it was the simple strategy he employed. The legendary media man who put India on the Global Media map in many ways is no more,” said Times Network, managing director and chief executive officer, MK Anand.

    “His professional achievements are multifarious – dominance in print media, advertising excellence, beauty queens, mega format ground events, the list goes on. He was one of the earliest of the current generation of high flyers who burst on to the Indian corporate landscape in the late 80’s and blazed through the 90’s. The young turk who kept rising,” he added.

  • 9X Media appoints Priyanka Sinha Jha as SVP & head of SpotboyE

    9X Media appoints Priyanka Sinha Jha as SVP & head of SpotboyE

    Mumbai: 9X Media has announced the appointment of Priyanka Sinha Jha as senior vice president & head of its subsidiary SpotboyE, an entertainment news portal. She will lead and mentor the editorial team and be responsible for the growth and monetisation of the portal, build alliances and partnerships across digital, print, and television platforms, it said in a statement.

    Priyanka, who is a senior media strategist and journalist, brings more than two decades of experience in creating and executing editorial strategy, content creation & curation, and striking alliances & partnerships across multiple platforms. Prior to joining 9X Media, she has worked in key positions in varied media ecosystems – from Screen, Hotstar, Star India, and Network18 to The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and Magna Publications.

    Commenting on her appointment, Priyanka said, “I am extremely pleased to be a part of the young and vibrant team at 9X Media and am really looking forward to work under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Pradeep Guha, a trailblazer, and pioneer in the media and entertainment industry. SpotboyE is an extremely promising venture and it has always been ‘The’ destination for news about the entertainment industry. The pandemic has created disruption across all industries. It’s interesting the way people are now consuming and engaging with media and content. This new normal is here to stay. Hence creation and curation of innovative content to quickly adapt to this new normal is the need of the hour! I look forward to working with the talented team at SpotboyE and 9X Media taking it to higher levels of engagement and relevance.”

  • 9X Media elevates Kanan Dave to SpotlampE business head

    9X Media elevates Kanan Dave to SpotlampE business head

    New Delhi: Music network 9X Media, which also owns SpotlampE and other digital products, has elevated marketing lead Kanan Dave to a business head role.

    As business head for SpotlampE, Dave will drive the next phase of growth, strategy and the creative development for SpotlampE. 

    An experienced industry professional with a career spanning over 15 years in the media and entertainment sector, Dave has been heading marketing at 9X Media for the past two years. In her earlier roles at UTV and Disney, she managed the music and film marketing business and worked on more than 50 movies across languages.

    “I am extremely happy to be a part of the company’s vision. SpotlampE has been a disruptor in the Indian music industry, giving independent and original music a great platform,” said Dave. “The Independent music industry is at the beginning of a new era, driving deeper engagements in multiple genres and languages across the country and offering compelling content to artists, partners and fans. I look forward to working with the artists and creators alongside brands and media platforms to grow the music landscape further.”

  • 9xO, Livon announce hunt for India’s first all-girls K-Pop

    9xO, Livon announce hunt for India’s first all-girls K-Pop

    MUMBAI: 9XO in partnership with Livon is launching the hunt for India’s first ever All Girls Korean Pop (K-Pop) band. Recognising a growing affinity for the genre in India, Livon is looking for India’s Top K-Pop Stars in partnership with international music channel 9XO. 

    The K-Pop genre has created one of the biggest waves in the global entertainment circuit and gained immense popularity with gen-Z across the world. With K-pop stars becoming major global fashion influencers and shaping fashion trends worldwide, styling has become critical for any emerging talent in the genre. Thus, Livon will focus not only on the hunt for singing abilities but will also groom the contestants into getting that awesome K-Pop look.

    Open to all K-Pop enthusiasts in India, the talent hunt is aimed at finding and honing the best K- Pop talent from across the country. The chosen band of 5 Indian girls will get a chance to record their K-Pop music video and release it on air with 9XO. Livon’s India’s Top K-Pop Stars kicks off with on ground auditions in Guwahati and Shillong followed by shortlisting of winners and mentoring sessions in Mumbai. To help choose this band and mentor them throughout the process, Livon has partnered with popular musicians from the North East region- Alobo Naga, Alune Tetseo and Kuvelu Tetseo.

    Speaking about the launch, Marico Ltd  Chief Marketing Officer Koshy George said, “The growing popularity of K-Pop and the inclination of our consumers towards it was a huge push for us to launch India’s Top K-Pop Stars in partnership with 9XO. With this property, we want to give our consumers an opportunity to showcase their love for K-Pop and guide them on styling and performance as they work towards putting the first ever K-Pop girls music album in India. K-Pop is not just about music but also about the way one looks while performing that Livon aims to bring out in the most fabulous manner for its consumers.”

    Livon 9XO India’s top K-Pop Stars hunt will be promoted across 9XO and 9XM through on air promos and on their digital channels. The talent hunt will also be promoted across digital and social media platforms. Commenting on the initiative, 9X Media Pvt. Ltd Chief Revenue Officer Pawan Jailkhani said, “Our international music channel 9XO has always helped the viewers to discover great music. K-Pop being the music for the youth today, this hunt is an apt platform for the deserving and talented singers. We are pleased to partner with Livon and present Livon 9XO India’s top K- Pop Stars. We believe in creating content that is unique and different; hence we present the hunt for India’s first all girl K-Pop band. I am confident that this talent hunt will be yet another success story waiting to happen with the Audience Brand Connect division at 9X Media.”

  • 9X Media, B4U & MASTiii challenge FreeDish e-auction in Delhi HC

    9X Media, B4U & MASTiii challenge FreeDish e-auction in Delhi HC

    MUMBAI: Within a few days of DD FreeDish e-auction recommencement notice, 9X Media, B4U and MASTiii have filed a writ petition before the Delhi High Court asking for a stay on the upcoming e-auction process as they feel the base prices are very high for small broadcasters.

    It wants the court to quash the guidelines issued by Prasar Bharati on 15 January 2019 as well as its directive to disconnect channels from 1 March 2019.

    9x Media has mentioned that it is a loss-making entity with losses of Rs 7.81 crore and negative earnings per share and such a decision could adversely impact its business. Its petition contends that FreeDish has shut the doors on small non-profit making companies from being available to the public at large and instead prefers deep-pocketed ones.

    After a long hiatus, Prasar Bharati board gave a green signal to e-auctioning of slots for DD FreeDish along with a revised policy with a change in pricing. The new policy guideline has kept five buckets for e-auction of MPEG2 slots. Bucket A+ has been kept for Hindi GECs and teleshopping channels with a reserve price of Rs 15 crore, and Bucket A has been dedicated to Hindi movie channels with a reserve price of Rs 12 crore.

    Hindi music, sports and Bhojpuri GEC and movie come under Bucket B which has a reserve price of Rs 10 crore. All news & current affairs (Hindi), All news & current affairs (English) and news & current affairs (Punjabi) channels fall under the category of Bucket C which with a reserve price of Rs 7 crore. The Bucket D with the lowest reserve price of Rs 6 crore will comprise all other remaining genres/language channels.

    9X Media contends that these categories of ‘high commercial potentiality’ and prices have not been justified by FreeDish. The petition also states that companies running news channels such as TV Today Network and Zee Media are profit-making companies and so keeping their base price lower than music channels is unjustified.

    “The channels can differ in content, viewership, class of customer, commercial potentiality, advertisement available, peak time of the channel, regions and other factors…Different music channels can have different uptake, viewership, potentiality, etc,” the document reads.

    The petitioners state that the entire process has been conducted arbitrarily without maintaining transparency. It even adds that Prasar Bharati is “misusing its status of the largest DTH operator, having largest number of subscriber base, as it claims to hold about 30 million subscribers.” Without consulting stakeholders, such decisions lead to creating monopoly in the hands of a few.

    Additionally, Prasar Bharati is seeking carriage fees which are way higher than private players even as the validity of FreeDish having 30 million subscribers is contended.

    The e-auctioning of slots onDD Free Dish were arbitrarily called off in 2017 while the last e-auction of DD FreeDish took place in July 2017. Earlier, DD FreeDish used to hold e-auction once every couple of months to award vacant channel slots to private broadcasters.

  • ZEEL scraps 9X Media acquisition

    ZEEL scraps 9X Media acquisition

    MUMBAI: Owing to non-completion of certain material conditions, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has terminated its deal to acquire music broadcaster 9X Media.

    ZEEL, on 6 October 2017, had entered into an agreement to buy 9X Media and INX Music from New Silk Route (NSR) and other shareholders for an all-cash deal of Rs 160 crore.

    In a release to the BSE, ZEEL stated, “This is further to our communication dated October 6, 2017, providing relevant details of the proposed acquisition of 100% equity stake in 2 Media entities viz. 9X Media Private Limited and INX Music Private Limited (9X entities).”

    “In this regard, we wish to inform you that the said acquisition deal has been terminated/called-off by the Company inter alia due to non-completion of certain material Conditions Precedent.”

    9X Media, along with its subsidiaries, operates a bouquet of six music channels–9XM (Latest Bollywood), 9X Jalwa (Evergreen Hindi), 9X Jhakaas (Marathi), 9X Tashan (Punjabi), 9XO (English), 9X Bajao (Hindi Classics).

    ZEEL was to acquire 91.45 million shares of Rs 10 each of 9X Media for a total consideration of Rs 155.2 crore. Furthermore, the company had also agreed to acquire 29.15 per cent stake in INX Music for Rs 4.8 crore.

    Post the acquisition, INX Music would have become a subsidiary of the company since 9X Media holds 70.85 per cent stake in the company.

    The acquisition was expected to be completed in 60 days as no government approvals were required.

    The deal would have provided an exit to private equity firm NSR that owns close to 80 per cent stake in 9X Media.

    Also Read:

    9X media announces two appointments in programming

    9X Media elevates Clyde D’Souza 

  • 9X media announces two appointments in programming

    9X media announces two appointments in programming

    MUMBAI: 9X Media has strengthened its programming team by announcing the elevation of Abbas Syed as the VP, programming – 9X Jalwa, and Vishakha Gokhale as associate VP, programming – 9X Jhakaas. This would be in addition to their current roles as VP content acquisition, 9X Media Pvt Ltd (9X Media), and network music head, respectively. Both will report to Amar Tidke, chief programming officer of 9X Media.

    Tidke said, “I am sure Abbas and Vishakha will continue with the great innovations on their respective channels and propel them to the next phase of growth. Their focused approach will help the channels to further increase their experience and delight amongst the viewers.”

    With over 18 years of experience in strategic partnerships, content acquisition and creation, Abbas has worked across various media and entertainment companies. His association with Channel V, MTV Networks, MySpace India and Vodafone has helped him understand the audience preferences as well as the potential of innovative content created across platforms. He has been spearheading content acquisition across all the five music television channels operated by 9X Media.

    Syed said, “My constant endeavour would be to entertain the viewers with content innovations across TV and digital platforms while airing the forever-hits music. Creation, curation and animation would be the prime focus on 9X Jalwa.”

    Gokhale has been the network music head at 9X Media since the past two years. She comes with a varied experience of more than 12 years in the music and entertainment space. She was the national music manager at Radio City responsible for programming music across 20 radio stations in Hindi-speaking and South Indian markets. She was successfully heading the network music team across all channels operated by 9X Media.

    Gokhale said, “We will focus on the amplification of viewer experiences and engagement across the television and digital platforms. In the next phase of growth for 9X Jhakaas, we will focus on innovative content specially curated for Marathi music fans across.”

  • 9X Media elevates Clyde D’Souza

    9X Media elevates Clyde D’Souza

    9X Media Pvt. Ltd, India’s largest music network, announced the elevation of Clyde D’Souza, Programming Head 9XO. Starting February 2018, Clyde has been given the additional responsibility of handling Programming for 9XM – India’s leading Bollywood music Channel. 

    Speaking of this development, 9X Media Pvt Ltd., Chief Programming Officer, Mr. Amar Tidke said “Clyde has immense knowledge and experience of creating content that appeals to a varied audience specially the youth. His innovative content ideas on 9XO have made the Channel extremely popular among the viewers. Clyde’s elevation to 9XM will bring fresh programming ideas in the Channel, further strengthening 9XM’s popularity and viewership.” 

    Clyde D’Souza is associated with 9XO since the inception of the channel and is responsible for driving major innovations on the Channel such as 9XO Fan wars, 9XO Hook, Tweetdown, 9XO Social Screen, O Bot, Insta Top 10, etc. Under his guidance 9XO has turned into one of the most popular International music channel in India.

    Sharing his enthusiasm, Vice President Programming 9XM & 9XO, Clyde D’Souza said “9XM has always wowed the viewers with path-breaking content and curation skills. I am extremely pleased to be a part of the team that has made 9XM India’s most popular Bollywood music destination. My experience of handling a niche International English music channel will help me to create innovative content that would be appealing to the viewers of 9XM. My current focus will be on introducing content innovations and digital extensions that will further build on the popularity of the Channel.”
     

  • ZEEL CEO Punit Misra says: “We intend to compete fairly”

    ZEEL CEO Punit Misra says: “We intend to compete fairly”

    MUMBAI: Last year in October,  Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) appointed Hindustan Unilever (HUL) sales and customer development executive director Punit Misra as ZEEL domestic broadcast business CEO.  Coming from the FMCG sector Misra has entered the television industry with an advantage – ‘ both the businesses depend on consumer behaviour’.

    ZEEL is now the largest broadcaster in India.  First it acquired Anil Ambani led Reliance Broadcast business and recently bagged 9X Media.

    In a conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Sonam Saini, Misra shares his one year experience and plans going forward.

    Excerpts:  

    How do FMCG and TV broadcasting compare since both of them depend on understanding audience behaviour?  

    As you said rightly, it’s all about consumer and consumer practise and not building brands. Building brands happens through content- that’s the difference because people use soap once in a day for those 3-5 minutes, but here people sit and consume and get emotionally attached. They can talk about hours but I don’t think consumers can sit and talk about consumer brands this much, so that’s the difference.

    You have completed a year in ZEEL. How has been the experience of heading a broadcast business?

    I am loving every minute here. I began with knowing nothing but there are a lot of things to do.

    Did you initiate the change after you took charge?

    It’s our initiative, not any one individual’s. Nothing works in any industry or any company because of one person. Deepak Rajadhyaksha has been raising and crafting a lot of things. Pratyusha is there and the agency team. I can’t even claim that I have done something.

    Did Punit Goenka take you through the company’s process in your first few days? How did he guide you?

    He is guiding me today as well. He’s just an amazing person. He guiding and gives space and I marvel at how he manages both at the same time. It is just incredible to have him as coach.

    What were the challenges that you faced? What milestones are you personally proud of?

    Firstly, we are supposed to learn before we start taking decisions. For me that was important because coming from a non-TV background I had to spend time to know the business, the people and the brand.

    Along with the team we are fantastically proud with the fact that we are the number one network. The fact that Zee TV is the number channel in HSM, I am proud of that.  I am  proud of the team that I have. We have retained key talent in the company since so many years.

    How do you view Zee’s presence in the market given competitors like Star and Sony are ramping up properties?

    They all have been in the market while competing. We are proud that we are number one in the Hindi speaking market Zee TV and Zee Anmol. Competition is good for the industry and for us as well.  We intend to compete fairly. KBC has grown fantastically, Sony has done a really great job. Star got IPL and congratulations to them. Colors suddenly took a hit but are back from the lead. Things to learn from them. We are all friends but otherwise we are competing tooth and nail in the space to win the viewer.  

    What was the idea behind 9X acquisition? What is the strategy for it?

    It’s the number one group in music genre that’s the reason we acquired the channels. We are still conceptualising the strategy.

    Why are you doing this channel refresh? Was there a need?

    All brands will come to a stage and think that now is the time to change and we believed that we were not doing well last year. We slipped to be in the middle. As today you know we are on number one and the timing is right.

  • 9X Media to nurture independent content, signs up three raw talents

    9X Media to nurture independent content, signs up three raw talents

    MUMBAI: 9X Media will nurture upcoming raw musical talent and provide them a stupendous launch pad. Being India’s largest Music Broadcaster, 9X Media will leverage its leadership position to amplify the new talent across the Network’s varied screens in the television and digital space. The new bubbling under and deserving talent across India and beyond will be signed exclusively with the Network for a minimum of three years.

    Mentoring the new talent 9X Media has taken three upcoming musical artists of diverse genres under its wings. These three artists namely – Rossh, Rae and Farid Ahmed will be managed by 9X Media with a 360 degree holistic approach that a music label would, and much more! The artists would get a mega launch pad on 9X Media’s channels and cross pollination across all its other properties.

    Commenting on the initiative 9X Media’s Senior Vice president Content & Strategic Alliances, Rajitta Hemwaani said, “the Company is all geared up to discover, nurture and proliferate independent music content and talent. Hence clutter breaking sounds, super talented musicians across genres and trend setting music videos are going to adorn our screen soon! I am extremely excited about not just building the new singers and musicians but the next mega brands in entertainment. Something that this country is totally ready for! A long term successful brand is what 9X Media envisions for each one of them.”

    From creating a super sleek music video for the artists to providing them a wide reach across 350 million television viewers and around 20 million digital communities, 9X Media will partner the talent in their musical journey to superstardom!

    Waiting in the wings for immediate release in the next couple of months are: ROSSH

    Rossh, is a rapper, musician and writer all rolled in one! Super talented, his debut original, Chillum, is one of the most popular viral tracks having garnered 8 million views organically.

    He has also composed the title track `Goosebumps’ of the Jackie Chan, movie, Kung Fu Yoga. Wild and exotic, his music caters to the youth today, with all its vibrancy. He specialises in Hip Hop, Reggae, Urban Desi , Sufi and of course Bollywood! This one is to watch out for!

    RAE

    Rae, is a 19 year old live wire of a singer and dancer from Mumbai. Training from the raw age of five years in singing & dancing which have always been her passion, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Selena Gomez are her vocal influencers.

    Rae, with her powerful strong voice and stage presence is here to fill the void in India, that of a teen, good looking, singer and performer. She is going to rule the stage very soon!

    FARID AHMED

    Finalist of the Saregama 2009, Farid has a soulful voice that tugs at your heart strings. Classical training from the age of 4 and coming from the Jaipur gharana, his grandfather was the Raj Gayak in the court of Maharaja Mansingh of Jaipur. His commitment to his passion and profession will ensure he is here to play the long innings in the world of sufi, Bollywood and live shows!