ITV

Tag: ABCL

  • TV9 enters Hindi heartland with TV9 Bharatvarsh

    TV9 enters Hindi heartland with TV9 Bharatvarsh

    MUMBAI: TV9 News Network is all set to launch its national Hindi channel, TV9 Bharatvarsh, next month in Delhi. The channel is ready with its largest news studio in the country, which will use the best of AR and VR technologies, and BOT news tracker in its presentation.

    Already a leader in regional media with six news channels in different parts of the country, this will be TV9 network's grand entry into the national media with its wealth of journalistic experience.

    TV9 Bharatvarsh will strive to change national television with its unique style of aggressive presentation blended with investigative journalism that will focus on the rights of the people. The Hindi channel will bring back issues that really matter and use the medium of television keeping the core values of humanity and people's interests in the forefront.

    Associated Broadcasting Company Private Limited (ABCL) was started in 2003 by a group of young journalists lead by Ravi Prakash as CEO. TV9 Bharatvarsh will be a free to air news channel. It will be available across all the platforms and will have a presence on cable, DTH and digital platforms worldwide.

  • Success or Health? Asks Aditya Birla Capital’s latest health insurance campaign

    Success or Health? Asks Aditya Birla Capital’s latest health insurance campaign

    MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited (ABHICL), the health insurance arm of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), today announced the launch of its latest TVC – Game of Choice – an advertising campaign that urges people to evaluate their health goals in their quest for success. This high-octane campaign has been launched across 45+ television channels and social media platforms.

    The campaign POKES, PRODS and PROVOKES people to realize how they tend to neglect their health, when faced with a choice between their life goals and fitness. It also incentivizes healthier lifestyle choices with upto 30% of health insurance premium in the form of HealthReturnsTM, as long as they put their ‘Health’ first!

    Speaking about the TVC launch, Mr Ajay Kakar, Chief Marketing Officer, Aditya Birla Capital said, “Would you rather choose health without success, or success without health? The answer isn’t that simple. Because when presented with this difficult choice, we realize that no amount of success is worthwhile without the good health needed to enjoy it. We do not want to choose one over the other and indeed, we shouldn’t have to. But we do take one for granted – our health. With this ‘Game of Choice’, we intend to provoke people into questioning their priorities and encourage them to choose health as a priority life goal, one that is equally important as their career aspirations.”

    Agnello Dias, Chief Creative Officer – Taproot Dentsu said, “People are generally hazy about the link between their emotional health and physical health. Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd’s ( ABHICL) campaigns in the past, and this one, aim to provoke hardworking professionals into asking uncomfortable questions to themselves. Answers to which, they know they have, but not too keen to confront and are therefore pushed far back into their minds. The stark, clinically real treatment chooses not to couch this reality in the delusional comfort of creative hyperbole."

    Pallavi Chakravarti, Executive Creative Director – Taproot Dentsu added, “'Between being a star performer at work and being frequently or seriously ill, no one in their right mind would pick the latter. Yet, we find that in the race to choose success, health is often left behind. Trouble is, TELLING people this is preachy. But letting them DISCOVER it for themselves, is what Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd. ( ABHICL) wanted this campaign to achieve, so that customers can use the brand to strike the right balance in their lives.”

    In today’s fast-paced world, health generally tends to take a backseat, given hectic schedules and the luxury of having everything at our fingertips. With many of us finding it hard to make time for regular fitness activities, such unhealthy lifestyle and dietary choices can potentially lead to an increase in diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart ailments etc.

    Creative Execution: Our TVC adopts a game show format wherein three hardworking professionals are pushed into an uncomfortable space, by getting them to choose between health and success. They find these choices extremely unfair but when pushed to choose one, all of them choose health over success. The film thus wants people to self-realize that if we want both health and success, why aren't we prioritizing our health at all.

  • TV9 network on sale; Zee group front-runner?

    TV9 network on sale; Zee group front-runner?

    MUMBAI: Consolidation in the Indian news television business is but a foregone conclusion, thanks to the plethora of channels operating in the space. The only question is when and who.

    Well, here’s another news television network which is possibly on the auctioneer’s table. Associated Broadcasting Co Pvt Ltd is reportedly looking for a buyer for its seven regional TV news channel bouquet under the TV9 brand, says a report by Business Standard this morning. ABCL employs over 5000 people across three countries.

    The report also quotes TV9 founder & CEO Ravi Prakash saying that “private equity investors typically follow a seven-year horizon for their exit strategy while our investors stayed with the company for 12 years. We have been in touch with a couple of people for possible stake sale. But no final decision has been taken till now.”

    The front-runner in this stake sale is reportedly the cash-rich Subhash Chandra-run Zee TV group.

    The investors of TV 9 had reportedly been seeking the right valuation for a majority stake sale and Zee seems to be up for it. The Zee group is likely to purchase a majority stake in ABCL, the Hyderabad-based media firm, which owns the TV9 brand.

    Chintalapati Srinivasa Raju, a venture capitalist, owns around 60 per cent of ABCL, Saif Partners, the US-based private equity firm, holds around 20 per cent while TV9 CEO and ABCL founder Ravi Prakash and his associates own the remaining 20 per cent stake.

    Under CEO Ravi Prakash’s leadership, ABCL’s mission has been to continually advance and improve the dissemination and quality of news and bring to viewers media services in their local languages. ABCL covers television, filmed entertainment, cable network programming, internet services operating direct broadcast satellite television, in India, United States of America and Africa.

    ABCL CFO MKVN Murthy brought to TV9 rich acumen gained decades of experience in the entertainment and communications industry. In addition, he has a deep understanding of the ins and outs of cable and satellite distribution platforms. Murthy has been the lead player in the company’s aggressive expansion to new markets in Karnataka, Gujarat, Mumbai and its partnership forays into Kerala and Kolkata.

    Saif Partners and Raju have reportedly been waiting for the expected valuations to sell their ABCL stake for quite some time now.

    Incorporated in May, 2003, ABCL had started with first 24-hour Telugu news channel under TV9 in the following year and expanded subsequently to other regional languages. It currently runs seven news channels including the TV9 Kannada, TV 9 Marathi and the popular TV 9 Gujarati news.

    The deal between the promoters of ABCL and Zee Group is expected to be closed in a couple of months, sources said. Zee was one of the four companies that had signed NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) with the promoters of ABCL some time ago, a senior ABCL official said.

    Zee group, which runs 35 news and entertainment channels in Hindi, English and other major languages, had closed down its Telugu news channel around four years ago. The potential purchase TV 9 may give Zee an opportunity to re-enter the Telugu market on the strength of a strong local brand and would also help it to expand its presence in important markets such as Gujarat, the Business Standard report explains.

    Srini Raju had promoted iLabs Capital (which later became Peepul Capital LLC) had invested around Rs 80 crore in ABCL’s first round of funding in 2004. Saif Partners acquired 20 per cent stake from Peepul in 2009.

    ABCL is committed to professional and social journalism. This is reflected in its dynamic style of news coverage and the corporate social responsibility work undertaken by the various TV9 channels in India and through Simba Television Network in Africa.

    Ravi started the first TV9 channel in Telugu which changed the dynamics of media and breaking news in Andhra Pradesh. Named as the “catalyst for progressive change”, Ravi’s news network has consistently focused on how media can facilitate a fair, equal modern society through its news and programming. Known for his impeccable anchoring skills his programme “encounter” an interview based political show has been widely appreciated for its analytical and presentational style.

  • TV9 network on sale; Zee group front-runner?

    TV9 network on sale; Zee group front-runner?

    MUMBAI: Consolidation in the Indian news television business is but a foregone conclusion, thanks to the plethora of channels operating in the space. The only question is when and who.

    Well, here’s another news television network which is possibly on the auctioneer’s table. Associated Broadcasting Co Pvt Ltd is reportedly looking for a buyer for its seven regional TV news channel bouquet under the TV9 brand, says a report by Business Standard this morning. ABCL employs over 5000 people across three countries.

    The report also quotes TV9 founder & CEO Ravi Prakash saying that “private equity investors typically follow a seven-year horizon for their exit strategy while our investors stayed with the company for 12 years. We have been in touch with a couple of people for possible stake sale. But no final decision has been taken till now.”

    The front-runner in this stake sale is reportedly the cash-rich Subhash Chandra-run Zee TV group.

    The investors of TV 9 had reportedly been seeking the right valuation for a majority stake sale and Zee seems to be up for it. The Zee group is likely to purchase a majority stake in ABCL, the Hyderabad-based media firm, which owns the TV9 brand.

    Chintalapati Srinivasa Raju, a venture capitalist, owns around 60 per cent of ABCL, Saif Partners, the US-based private equity firm, holds around 20 per cent while TV9 CEO and ABCL founder Ravi Prakash and his associates own the remaining 20 per cent stake.

    Under CEO Ravi Prakash’s leadership, ABCL’s mission has been to continually advance and improve the dissemination and quality of news and bring to viewers media services in their local languages. ABCL covers television, filmed entertainment, cable network programming, internet services operating direct broadcast satellite television, in India, United States of America and Africa.

    ABCL CFO MKVN Murthy brought to TV9 rich acumen gained decades of experience in the entertainment and communications industry. In addition, he has a deep understanding of the ins and outs of cable and satellite distribution platforms. Murthy has been the lead player in the company’s aggressive expansion to new markets in Karnataka, Gujarat, Mumbai and its partnership forays into Kerala and Kolkata.

    Saif Partners and Raju have reportedly been waiting for the expected valuations to sell their ABCL stake for quite some time now.

    Incorporated in May, 2003, ABCL had started with first 24-hour Telugu news channel under TV9 in the following year and expanded subsequently to other regional languages. It currently runs seven news channels including the TV9 Kannada, TV 9 Marathi and the popular TV 9 Gujarati news.

    The deal between the promoters of ABCL and Zee Group is expected to be closed in a couple of months, sources said. Zee was one of the four companies that had signed NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) with the promoters of ABCL some time ago, a senior ABCL official said.

    Zee group, which runs 35 news and entertainment channels in Hindi, English and other major languages, had closed down its Telugu news channel around four years ago. The potential purchase TV 9 may give Zee an opportunity to re-enter the Telugu market on the strength of a strong local brand and would also help it to expand its presence in important markets such as Gujarat, the Business Standard report explains.

    Srini Raju had promoted iLabs Capital (which later became Peepul Capital LLC) had invested around Rs 80 crore in ABCL’s first round of funding in 2004. Saif Partners acquired 20 per cent stake from Peepul in 2009.

    ABCL is committed to professional and social journalism. This is reflected in its dynamic style of news coverage and the corporate social responsibility work undertaken by the various TV9 channels in India and through Simba Television Network in Africa.

    Ravi started the first TV9 channel in Telugu which changed the dynamics of media and breaking news in Andhra Pradesh. Named as the “catalyst for progressive change”, Ravi’s news network has consistently focused on how media can facilitate a fair, equal modern society through its news and programming. Known for his impeccable anchoring skills his programme “encounter” an interview based political show has been widely appreciated for its analytical and presentational style.

  • Divaakar returns to TV9 as ad sales VP

    Divaakar returns to TV9 as ad sales VP

    MUMBAI: S Divaakar is set to start his second stint with the Associated Broadcasting Company Ltd. (ABCL), which operates the TV9 news network. He will serve in the capacity of vice-president ad sales national and will report to ABCL director Clifford Periera.

    Divaakar will be based in Bangalore and will handle ad sales nationally.

    Pereira said, “Divaakar’s appointment is a part of our expansion plans. We are looking at aggressive growth in the near future. This includes new appointemtns and launch of new channels which will be revealed in due course of time.”

    Divaakar had previously worked with ABCL as AGM for four and a half years before joining Public TV nine months back where he was vice-president, sales and marketing.

    He has nearly 19 years of experience in the television industry. He began his career as a sales executive in Udaya TV when the channel was launched in 1994 and has been associated with channels like Gemini TV, Jaya TV, ETC, Zee Network, Sahara One and Filmy since then.

  • TV9 scouts for investors, needs Rs 4 bn to expand

    TV9 scouts for investors, needs Rs 4 bn to expand

    MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based Associated Broadcasting Company Ltd (ABCL), which runs a clutch of regional news channels, has mandated Edelweiss Capital to find an investor that also includes complete exit from the business if the valuation is right.

    ABCL has a fund requirement of Rs 4 billion to launch news channels in Tamil for the Chennai market, Oriya and Hindi for the National Capital Region (NCR). The plan is to expand its fleet of channels to nine.

    “We are looking at an investor to expand our operations. We are prepared to dilute and may even exit if we get the right price,” a source familiar with the development said.

    Is a national media house buying out ABCL? “We have given the mandate to Edelweiss Capital. No discussion has happened with the ABCL management and any media house,” the source clarified.

    ABCL is in the process of giving 14.5 per cent stake to private equity fund Saif III Mauritius Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Softbank Corp. This will follow a merger between iVision Media, the India outfit of Saif, and ABCL.

    iVision had lent Rs 500 million as debt to ABCL and this will get converted into equity.

    “Saif will hold around 14.5 per cent equity, valuing ABCL at Rs 3.5 billion. We are approaching the high court to approve the merger between iVision Media India and ABCL,” the source said. iVision Media India was set up to start a video news wire agency, but Saif shelved its plans and the company is dormant.

    Earlier, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) rejected ABCL’s proposal to give stake to ABCL. “The FIPB has asked us to get the high court approval for a merger between ABCL and iVision. Then they will consider our proposal of converting the debt into equity,” the source said.

    In its earlier application, ABCL had sought merger of iVision with itself. It would have issued and allotted compulsory convertible preference shares on the date of completion of the merger.

    Post the merger, Srini Raju-promoted iLabs Venture Capital and Saif will hold around 85 per cent in ABCL.

    ABCL operates six news channels including TV9 AP (Telugu), TV1, TV9 Karnataka, News9 English (Bangalore), TV9 Gujarat, and TV9 Mumbai (Hindi).

    For TV9 Karnataka and News9 English, ABCL has given 10 per cent stake to a local partner while in Gujarat it has parted with 5 per cent. In all other operations, it holds the entire stake, the source said.

    ABCL has made an equity investment of Rs 800 million into the business and has taken a debt of Rs 500 million from Saif.

    The company has turned around and is operationally making a profit. In FY’11, ABCL clocked a revenue of Rs 1.08 billion. The company has crossed this figure in the first nine months of this fiscal, the source said.

    Also Read:

    TV9 looks at Saif ahead of IPO plans; to seek FIPB nod again

  • Future belongs to regional news channels: Ravi Prakash

    Future belongs to regional news channels: Ravi Prakash

    NEW DELHI: The future of television news channels is in going regional. However, the path is not so easy as it is marred with political influence, flawed rating system and pressure on editorial. These were the thoughts of Associated Broadcasting Company Ltd (ABCL) CEO Ravi Prakash.

    ABCL had launched a 24-hour news channel (TV9 AP) in Andhra Pradesh in 2004 and was faced with severe skepticism at that time, Prakash said.

    “When we launched the channel, many questions were raised about viability. Today, there are 17 news channels in the state, and no one is closing down,” he said.

    Prakash was giving his perspective on regional news during the 4th News Television Summit on 17 March in New Delhi.  
         
      During his keynote, he stressed that even if regional is the future; there is a big problem in terms of politicians wanting to launch their channels.

    “The entry of politicians and political money has its consequences. There are other issues also like paid news, but the biggest is political. And it just doesn’t stop there. Problem is that the leaders don the role of editors and control the content,” Prakash rued.

    He cited the example of Tamil Nadu where a leading group is affiliated to a political party. Without taking any names, he also said that at least three channels in Andhra Pradesh are owned, directly or indirectly, by politicians.

    Prakash said that the rating agency is flawed and it forces the channels to produce and serve mediocre programmes.

    “Tam is forcing the channels to air trivial content. The peoplemeters are installed in the lower economic strata and that has to be changed,” he said.

    Blaming it on Tam and demanding rationalisation in the ratings process, Prakash candidly said: “I am ashamed to say that we have had to show some content because they get ratings.”
     

  • TV9 launches city-centric channels in Mumbai and Bangalore

    TV9 launches city-centric channels in Mumbai and Bangalore

    MUMBAI: Beating the recession, Hyderabad-based Associated Broadcasting Company Ltd (ABCL), which operates news channels under the brand name TV9, is investing Rs 380 million to launch two city-centric news channels in Mumbai and Bangalore.

    TV9 Mumbai and News 9, the channels for Mumbai and Bangalore, will be launched simultaneously on 9 January.

    ABCL will invest Rs 220 million in the Hindi news channel TV9 Mumbai and Rs 160 million in the English news channel News 9.

    “We are investing Rs 380 million and will be launching the two city-centric channels tomorrow,” ABCL vice president operations KVN Murthy tells Indiantelevision.com.

    TV9 will follow up the launch of TV9 Mumbai with Bollywood news channel Lehrein. “We are adding three channels in the quarter to take our total number of channels to eight,” says Murthy.

    With the launch of News 9, the group will, thus, have two news channels in Karnataka. “News 9 will be targeted at the upmarket, young audiences in Bangalore. It will complement our Kannada news channel,” says Murthy.

    TV9 Mumbai will have 70 per cent of its programming on news and current affairs while the balance 30 per cent will be a mix of lifestyle and entertainment news content.

  • Bhaskar Group appoints Bikash Banerjee as head of business – West & South

    MUMBAI: The Bhaskar Group has appointed Bikash Banerjee as head of business for West and South India. Spearheading the Group’s publications Banerjee will be responsible for marketing, sales and revenues of Dainik Bhaskar (South and West) and Divya Bhaskar (South) in these regions and will be based in Mumbai.

    He will replace Harrish M Bhatia who is moving on to Synergy Media, the radio venture of the company (MYFM 94.3), as Senior VP and business group head and will operate from Delhi.

    With 20 years of experience in marketing and sales, prior to the Bhaskar Group Banerjee has worked with ABP, Mid Day Multimedia Ltd, Vibrant Media (a joint venture of ABCL and Mudra) and Business Standard.

    Banerjee said, “I am delighted to join the group. The job is challenging, but with my experience and the outstanding track record of the group, I am sure of achieving great results.”

  • TV9 in talks to buy 26 per cent stake in Indiavision

    MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based Associated Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd (ABCL), which operates under the TV9 brand, is in talks to acquire a 26 per cent stake in Malayalam news channel Indiavision.

    ABCL and Indiavision have had the first round of discussions but couldn’t agree on the valuation, a source familiar with the negotiations says. Indiavision was valuing the company at Rs 1 billion but ABCL is agreeable to a much lower figure, he adds.

    The move is seen as a counter to the aggressive plans drawn by national broadcasters to step into the regional space. Zee News Ltd has already launched a Marathi news channel and others like Raghav Bahl’s TV18 Group are waiting in the wings.

    ABCL already runs a Telugu and a Kannada news channel. The company plans to launch a string of channels including a Mumbai-centric Hindi news channel. It is planning to raise Rs 2.5 billion from private equity funds to support all its expansion plans.

    Senior executives of ABCL will be visiting Indiavision office next week to thrash out some form of deal, the source says. If talks on equity participation break, discussions on forming a strategic alliance will be pursued.

    “ABCL could take up the marketing of Indiavision and an arrangement on infrastructure sharing could be worked out. Both the regional news networks realise that they need to strike an alliance as new competition is going to come from the bigger players,” the source adds.

    When contacted, Indiavision chairman and political leader Dr M K Muneer declined to comment.

    ABCL is 80 per cent owned by iLabs, a venture fund, and Unified Group. The balance 20 per cent is held by Ravi Prakash and five other professionals.