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Tag: ABP News Network

  • ABP News appoints Sant Prasad Rai as SVP of news & production

    ABP News appoints Sant Prasad Rai as SVP of news & production

    Mumbai: ABP News has appointed Sant Prasad Rai as senior vice president of news and production.

    He brings with him an experience of over two decades. In his new role, Rai will be responsible for all content on ABP News.

    Rajiv Khandekar has been elevated as EVP – News & Production of ABP News and ABP Majha. Taking up the new position, Khandekar will be responsible for setting the editorial direction & chairing editorial meetings for ABP News.

    Talking about the appointments, ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey said, “It is with great pleasure that I announce that Sant Prasad Rai is joining ABP News as senior vice president of news & production. Rai brings with him over two decades of experience and I am confident that his expertise will be of great value to the channel as we work towards our goals.”

    “Additionally, I am pleased to announce that Rajiv Khandekar has been promoted from the post of senior vice president of news & programming for ABP Majha to the post of executive vice president of news and production for ABP News and ABP Majha. In this role, Khandekar will be responsible for setting the editorial direction and chairing editorial meetings for ABP News. We would like to thank Sumit Awasthi for his contributions as vice president of news and production for ABP News. Awasthi has been a great asset to the team and will continue to work with us as a lead anchor and host of the 8 pm slot on ABP News. We are excited to have Sant Prasad Rai, Rajiv Khandekar and Sumit Awasthi with us and look forward to continued success in the times to come,” he added.

  • #Throwback2020: The year of noise in the news industry

    #Throwback2020: The year of noise in the news industry

    NEW DELHI: It would be no exaggeration to describe 2020 as a nightmarish sequence straight out of an apocalyptic film – with a global pandemic throwing the world in turmoil, disturbing footage of numerous coffins being lowered into the ground, a number of beloved celebrities breathing their last, and a sense of uncertainty looming over everyone’s head. Industries across sectors battled production-stoppages, demand changes, cash crunch, and had to make many tough choices for sustenance. It was no different for the Indian news industry. While the year also turned out to be a hot bed of controversies, the businesses also won big on certain levels. It went through its own set of good, bad and ugly moments through the year. 

    Innovations, launches & rebrandings

    Despite the prevailing state of affairs, 2020 was marked by new beginnings. Several prime media outlets including ABP News Network, Zee Hindustan, Suvarna News, News18 Rajasthan, India Ahead, and Hindustan Times got rebranded. Apart from that, Republic launched its Hindi and Bengali websites, and TV9 and AajTak entered the Bangla digital news market. TV9 also forayed into the business content vertical this year.

    In terms of innovation, apart from stellar programming line-ups and marketing for Delhi, Bihar, and the US elections, special programmes for Covid2019 coverage, some media houses experimented in their offerings too. While Republic Bharat and Republic TV started streaming on e-commerce platform Flipkart, TOI launched a unique print-linked digital game called Times Housie Plus. 

    The frontline battle with the pandemic

    While most of the world went into a work-from-home mode, hundreds of journalists joined the frontline forces battling the pandemic, keeping the 24×7 news cycles running for channels, digital outlets, and the print medium. From doing pathbreaking on-ground coverage from red-zone areas, walking alongside migrant labourers for miles, and brave journalism on cases like Hathras and the farmer’s protests, to holistic reporting on Bihar and the US elections, the Indian news industry tried its best to keep citizens well-informed. In fact, to a large extent the news media played a huge role in helping control the spread of the novel coronavirus by running campaigns advising citizens to stay home, and updating viewers about the latest news on the killer disease’s spread as well as measures being taken to bring it under control. News viewership on TV recorded a staggering 298 per cent growth during the initial 21-day lockdown, as per BARC data, as citizens struggled to stay informed in a world that seemed to be going insane. 

    While media outlets were burning the midnight oil with full gusto, the pandemic hit them hard on the ad revenue and subscription front, which in turn led to a number of job losses, pay cuts, and shutdowns.

    Outlook Magazine was one of the first to go under a temporary shutdown earlier this year, followed by The Bloomberg Quint shutting down its TV division, Sakal Media Group pulling the plug on Sakal Times and Gomantak Times, India Today network shuttering Delhi AajTak, and Times Group bidding adieu to Pune Mirror and relaunching Mumbai Mirror as a weekly. Several editions and bureaus of leading national newspaper shut down, and journalists once used to fat salaries and comfortable jobs were suddenly evicted from their desks and on to the streets. The cost cutting ran across hundreds of media organisations which suddenly saw advertisers vanishing into the distant horizon and showing very little signs of returning for most of the year. Thousands across media lost their jobs while some in NDTV, Quint, Times Group, India Today, Network18, etc bore the brunt of salary cuts for the major part of the year. 

    Controversies galore

    News media became a breeding ground for controversies in 2020 with many CEOs getting embroiled in police cases. Sanket Media director PVS Sarma got arrested by the enforcement directorate in a PMLA case. Republic TV and its ringmaster Arnab Goswami found themselves in a soup for their coverage on sensational topics like Palghar lynching, Bandra migrant crisis, Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise and then got accused of rigging the ratings. Goswami was also arrested in an alleged, dismissed abetment to suicide case from 2018, which he maintains is a case of vendetta against him by the Mumbai police chief commissioner ParamBir Singh for his critical reporting against the way Rajput’s case was being handled.  The  Mumbai police also booked the channel’s senior management and editorial staff for airing the news about a “revolt” against commissioner Param Bir Singh by the police force. 

    An ABP Majha reporter got ensnared in the Bandra migrant crisis controversy when his name appeared in an FIR, citing that his false reportage played a role in gathering the crowd there. However, he was later released by the Supreme Court, which ruled that no direct connection could be established between his reporting and the people collecting at Bandra railway station.

    Additionally, four prominent associations from Bollywood along with 34 leading producers filed a lawsuit against Republic TV and Times Now for irresponsible reporting in the Rajput case and vilifying the film industry. The channels were directed by the Delhi high court to refrain from posting any derogatory content. They were reprimanded by the court thus: “Media can't run a parallel trial. You're a broadcaster… show news. There is less news and more opinion… things are being pre-judged.”

     

     

    Zee News editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary was named in an FIR registered by Kerala police for presenting “a programme that is offending the Muslim religion.”

    “The highlight of the show on 11 March was the ‘jihad chart.’ In his show, he explained to his viewers what the chart detailed: ‘types of jihad,’” the report stated.

     

     

    Another news channel that faced severe flak and action from the courts was Sudarshan News and its show Bindas Bol that somehow managed to find ‘jihad’ in the UPSC. 

    The TRP turmoil

    While all the channels worked hard to gain audiences, allegations of TRP manipulationerupted when the Mumbai police commissioner held a press conference stating that channels were paying viewers to say they were watching them.  Amongst those who were accused were the promoters of Fakt Marathi, Box Cinema and Republic TV. The latter had been running a campaign against the Mumbai police commissioner and the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray about the Rajput investigation. The channel stated that the empire was fighting back, that ed-in-chief Arnab Goswami had nothing to do with any TRP shenanigans. But the police force picked him forcibly from his home and kept him in custody for seven days. And they kept on arresting more and more Republic TV executives; the harder Arnab cried and yelled unfair on TV, the harder they came down upon him and his team. At the time of writing, 12 arrests had been made, withthe latest being that of  Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani.

    In response to the scandal, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) decided to suspend the measurement of television viewership ratings of all news channels for 12 weeks.

    “Besides augmenting current protocols and benchmarking them with global standards, BARC is actively exploring several options to discourage unlawful inducement of its panel home viewers and further strengthening its code of conduct to address viewership malpractice," BARC CEO Sunil Lulla had said in a statement.

    Integrity questioned

    Probably the worst thing that could have happened to the industry this year was the scathing attacks it faced on its integrity as slew of fake news and “polarised opinions” battered the screens throughout the year. Several advertisers, like Parle and Bajaj, also said they would be forced to pull out monies from “toxic” news channels.

    It was in February this year when several leading news channels covering the Jamia violence had falsely claimed that the wallet held in a student’s hands was a stone. Additionally, the students who were sitting in the library covering their faces to protect themselves from tear-gas shelling were called “rioters.” 

     

     

    The same month, Wall Street Journal found itself mired in controversy as a police complaint was registered against it for spreading ‘fake news’ on the death of IB officer Ankit Sharma. The publication was said to be “defaming a particular religion” as they ran an interview of Sharma’s brother, who later said that he never made such a statement.

     

     

    Then there was the scrum of fake news and disinformation surrounding the pandemic. It started with running scores of unverified or false reports on the role of Tablighi Jamaat in spreading the virus. A number of officials and city police sources had to clarify many myths, chiefly being peddled by several media outlets.

    The Saharanpur police debunked the narrative of publications like Amar Ujala and Rajasthan Patrika that quarantined Tablighis in the city defecated in the open at the facility after being denied non-vegetarian food. 

     

     

    The Arunachal Pradesh police called out Zee News for spreading false information about Coronavirus cases. The channel had claimed that 11 Tablighi members tested positive in the state, when in fact there was just one reported case of the virus infection there.

     

    Noida police, too, cracked the whip on ANI News for misquoting and misreporting a quarantine exercise.

     

    These are just a handful of the many instances of false reporting against the Jamaat,as well as the false narratives spun by news organisations amid the pandemic. From ABP News inventing a non-existing ICMR report stating how the lockdown lowered the Covid infections below expectations, to News18 misreporting SAARC nations and other countries joining PM Modi’sinitiative of lighting candles as a show of support for frontline warriors, to News 24 sharing old clips of namaz at Jama Masjid to claim that mass gatherings were happening during the lockdown, to the travesty that Bandra railway station became during the migrant crisis, the news industry blaredunwarranted noise this year. 

    Most recently, several news channels including AajTak, ABP News, Times Now and Republic Bharat, engaged in high-pitch rhetoric for hours on the evening of 19 November, over a purported airstrike by Indian forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Eventually, PIB had to clear the air around this fake news in a tweet. 

     

     

    Another black chapter that Indian media outlets wrote for themselves was when they started on their own will, a highly dramatised and unseemly media trial in the alleged Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case, which begged the question if there was any integrity or sensitivity left in the news industry. 

    From splashing on screens the disturbing images of the actor’s dead body,shoving microphones into his grieving father’s face, to running a bogus post mortem on live television, news channels hit new lows in their quest for higher TRPs. Given this sorry state of affairs, the Press Council of India had to advise media outlets to adhere to the norms of journalistic conduct in their reportage. 

     

     

    News outlets went hammer and tongs after Rajput’s paramour Rhea Chakraborty for her alleged, and till now unproven connection to Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. From sensational headlines to character shaming, Indian news channels stooped as low as they could to grab every bit of misinformation, they could show the world. Personal privacy went for a toss as they accessed and “investigated” primetime actors’ leaked text messages. Also, Times Now anchors were seen struggling with millennial lingo as they thought “Imma Bounce” meant a check getting bounced. 

     

     

    So, this was all the noise that newsrooms generatedin 2020. While the industry was lauded for its efforts to deal with the pandemic and keep the news cycle grinding on, it was also questioned for its reportage. No doubt, the TRP scandal has left an indelible blot on its image. However, some channels have told Indiantelevision.com that they are taking this year as a lesson and using the time of TRP suspension to work on their content. Whether or not this year leads to a serious course correction, only time will tell. 

  • ABP News Network is now ABP Network

    ABP News Network is now ABP Network

    NEW DELHI: As part of an ongoing evolution, ABP News Network has changed its brand name to ‘ABP Network’. Along with its redesigned logo, the new name comprises part of a comprehensive repositioning strategy with a novel brand identity, designed to mirror the growth and transformation of the company.

    This brand identity represents an evolution of the organization’s previous roots. In its new avatar, ABP Network will be expanding its offerings ‘beyond news’ to allied spheres such as content creation, production, brand solutions, and more. While driving its innovative offerings, the media conglomerate will invest in cutting-edge technology, providing best-in-class solutions to clients and crafting engaging experiences to nurture an empowered society.

     A fulcrum of this transformation will be ‘ABP Creations’ – a content and production company combining a collective experience of knowledge on India dating to 1922. ABP Studios, which comes under the purview of ABP Creations is a one-stop-shop for all content needs in creatives, production, licensing & syndication, driven by a team of multilingual visual storytellers, who know India like no one else.

    On its brand makeover, ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey said, “This milestone is the beginning of another epoch-making journey for ABP Network. Over the years, we have focused on delivering the latest, most accurate news to viewers worldwide. Moreover, we have achieved undisputed leadership in the news genre. However, this new identity will give us leeway to be more than just a news media company. While helping us embrace digital technologies and become future-ready, it will also allow us to innovate more while scaling greater heights. What’s more, it will help us inspire people, spark imaginations, and enlighten minds.”

    The complete rebranding, including the new logo, is conceptualized by Saffron Brand Consultants – an independent global brand consultancy based in Madrid, Spain.

    Elaborating on the transition, Jacob Benbunan, Co-founder & CEO, Saffron co-founder and CEO Jacob Benbunan said, "Working with Avinash Pandey and his team helped Saffron create an ecosystem that I believe beautifully reflects the individual needs and idiosyncrasies of each channel without compromising the essence of being part of India’s pre-eminent publishing and newspaper house. It is not always that we encounter such exceptional talent, courage and clarity."

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  • ABP Ananda as the emblem of Bengali culture: 15 years & counting

    ABP Ananda as the emblem of Bengali culture: 15 years & counting

    West Bengal’s most illustrious news channel, ABP Ananda, has added yet another chapter to its glorious history, completing 15 years of operations this month. Since inception, the channel has been the quintessence of local, on-ground reporting in Bengal and has carved a special place in the heart of the Bengalis.

    With a mission to empower, inspire & serve as the voice of the people, the channel has not only created a strong brand equity in the market of West-Bengal, but also withheld its no. 1 position consistently. Among the five channels that have constantly appeared in BARC’s weekly lists of Top 5 Bangla news channels, ABP Ananda has remained the most consistent & most-watched. The channel, through its many memorable shows, has given a televisual feast to its viewers, and was the No.1 channel in the entire West Bengal TV Universe in terms of reach, for 13 consecutive weeks. (Source: BARC, TG – NCCS 2+, Mkt- WB, Wk 12-24’2020, Cume. Reach in Cr.) ABP Ananda has not only surpassed GECs, but all channels available in West Bengal – making history in the news broadcasting sphere.

    However, achieving this undisputed leadership position was no cakewalk. Over the years, the channel has fervently pursued its vision towards responsible, action-oriented & impactful journalism, delivering top-notch content to its viewers. Carrying forward its editorial philosophy of radical opinions with a reverence for facts, the channel has proficiently undertaken issues of both local and national importance via cutting-edge reportage. In fact, ABP Ananda was the first channel to break the story of Rizwanur Rahman – A high profile case of an inter-religion marriage leading to an accidental death of Rizwanur in August 2007, the Saradha Financial Scam pertaining to the collapse of a Ponzi scheme run by Saradha Group in 2013, the Park Street Rape case of Feb 2012, Maoist Kishenji’s death and the Posta Flyover Collapse in 2016, among many other cases with perplexing, meddlesome dimensions.

    What’s more is that, the channel has been a close ally of the viewers during the time of crises and helped them sail through grief & despair, by keeping them apprised at all times. In May 2019, when Cyclone Fani intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm, ABP Ananda’s GKSS was No.1 in WB TV Universe (Source BARC, TG- NCCS 2+, Fri 3rd May’19, TB- 2000-2100 Hrs, Mkt- WB, GVTs). Similarly, the calamity that struck Bengal during the Cyclone Amphan, ABP Ananda’s Live TV garnered 6.2 million views in one day (20th May, 2020), despite a major breakdown in communication networks. This truly depicts the faith of Bengali viewers in ABP Ananda’s coverage, which has chronicled every single story of the state.

    Even amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, when viewers have been on a constant lookout for latest developments in their district/township, ABP Ananda has been a frontrunner in delivering updates across all platforms.

    Moreover, as we grapple with the numerous ramifications of the pandemic, various beleaguered sectors are looking for sustenance, especially that of education. The scholastic and academic loss to students, particularly those belonging to disadvantaged groups, has demanded an expeditious action. In this light, ABP Ananda aired virtual classes for students of IX to XII of state-aided Madhyamik & Higher Secondary schools and ICSE & ISC students to make up for the lost lessons, which received an overwhelming response from the viewers.

    Apart from relentlessly bringing meaningful stories of West Bengal to its people, the channel has also embroiled itself into the culture & ethos of the state, through local on-ground initiatives and events. Some of their most acclaimed events include the Khaibaar Pass Food Festival – one of Kolkata’s biggest on-ground Food Festivals which celebrates the scintillating Bengali food culture, and the success of which has paved the way for three more Khaibaar Pass Events in North Bengal, South Bengal, and North 24 Parganas; Sera Bangali, an award show that honors eminent personalities of Bengal; Jukti-Tokko – a renowned debate show which delivers authentic, ground-breaking conversations on key political & social issues of the state; and Sharad Ananda & Aloke Ananda, two properties that have become an integral part of a Bengali’s celebration of the most auspicious festivals – Durga Puja & Kali Puja

    By the dint of these special initiatives, ABP Ananda has become a household name in Kolkata and a true confidant of the Bengali audiences all across the country.

    In the ever-evolving television industry, the viewership patterns, content offerings, and audiences have diversified drastically in the past 15 years. But ABP Ananda has thrived and retained its crown despite the changing landscapes. Having achieved so much over the years, the channel has emerged as a hallmark of superior quality and credibility with the highest ethical standards of news reportage.

    And as it embarks on another noteworthy year, the channel is poised to make even bigger strides in the realm of television news.

    An undisputed leader, 15 years and counting.

  • How ABP News Network helps employees cope with Covid2019 paranoia

    How ABP News Network helps employees cope with Covid2019 paranoia

    MUMBAI: Working in an office during a pandemic is not only stressful for employees but also for leaders. They are continuously committed towards emergency preparedness and at the same time looking at business continuity. Especially in a news organisation, when people are on their toes throughout the day, it is challenging to keep the workforce as healthy as possible. To create a better environment and more consistent systems in which employees can flourish are the topmost priorities of HR officials. In this interaction with indiantelevision.com, ABP News Network (ANN) spokesperson highlighted different initiatives taken by the management to safeguard the lives of its employees.

    Excerpts:

    What measures have you been taking so far to relieve your employees from mental stress?

    At ANN, we are trying to meet the challenges of this situation with compassion, heart, and kindness. We extend ceaseless support to all our employees via routine one-on-one communication to address their grievances and uplift their spirits during these challenging times. In terms of ensuring physical health and well-being, doctor-on-call service has been made available to all and in case of an employee testing positive for Covid2019, company mediclaim will cover the expenses.

    With an effort to help navigate their experiences in the new normal, all employees have been provided with a ‘Path Forward’ handbook. Additionally, the HR department will soon be launching a few special ‘Remote Employee Engagement Initiatives’ to cultivate a positive culture and help everyone unwind from the monotony.

    How are you planning to take care of employees’ psychological state as psychological safety will be more important than ever as they get back to work?

    Active measures to build psychological safety at the workplace will be taken up by establishing an ‘EAP Programme’.

    In order to build healthy coping skills, we will also be promoting practices of mindfulness and yoga among all our employees through dedicated efforts. Other programmes to reduce stigma around mental wellness will be initiated as often the fear of stigma prevents some people from getting the help they need.

    What will the world of HR look like after the lockdown is lifted?

    Much like other operating procedures that have witnessed disruptions, various HR practices will also remain fundamentally altered post-lockdown. The new normal will be defined by remote engagement mechanisms, revamping of existing skill sets, employing digital capabilities across all roles and identifying efficient automation practices. All of this would play a decisive role in long-term survival. Innovation and agility, coupled with compassion and empathy, will be instilled as essential organisational values.

    In fact, this new era will not only redefine our practices with regard to remote work but various additional roles such as ‘Crisis Management’ will have to be addressed.

    How are you preparing to bring back your workforce once the lockdown is lifted?

    The current situation is still volatile with no signs of when it plans to dissipate. So, better clarity will be established only as we proceed and as the government announces further regulations. Nonetheless, in any case, we will ensure a phased increase of manpower in our organisation.

    Any new practices being taken up for the betterment of employees by the HR?

    During a time of upheaval and isolation, it is pertinent to cultivate a positive culture. In this light, we have initiated a unique ‘RnR drive’ (Rewards and Recognitions Drive) to acknowledge special efforts of our employees in order to keep them motivated and engaged.

    What sanitization measures are in place in your company?

    We are taking an abundance of caution to ensure workplace safety including contactless hand washing mechanisms at the premise gate, thermal screening, and mandatory hand sanitization at office entry.

    Video conferencing in lieu of in-person gatherings are being carried out to ensure work goes on seamlessly. Reimbursements are also in place with regard to official travel.

    Are there changes to the timings/work structure to ease people’s psychological fear? Will there be any changes in the workspace considering the social distancing factor?

    ‘Flexi Working Hours’ have been already constituted in the organisation, which we will continue to follow as we proceed.

    Mechanisms of shift-working are also in place. However, space management will be a new area for us to explore. Moving forward, it is going to be essential to adhere to social distancing norms even as things get better, so our focus shall remain on reviewing existing office layout for reconfiguration.

    What segment of your workforce consists of elderly people? Will there be any extra measures to ensure their health and safety is well taken care of?

    Elderly staff (55-60 years) constitutes less than five per cent of our organisation. However, we extend our heartfelt support to all our employees with elderly parents, at all times.

    When in the future do you expect this fear receding and the entire workforce will be back?

    As we find ourselves muddled in the uncertainty of this health threat, change is going to be more of a process, which occurs gradually and takes its own course. Unanticipated twists and turns continue to emerge and we shall only have a complete outlook in retrospect. Having said that, this is undeniably an unprecedented setback and we do not foresee a complete reinstitution before the next financial year.

  • News networks’ COVID-19 campaigns seek engagement, brand image

    News networks’ COVID-19 campaigns seek engagement, brand image

    MUMBAI: It’s been almost a month since lockdown and news channels have launched dozens of campaigns on both television and digital platforms to talk about COVID-19. Though the preliminary objective of these campaigns is to create awareness and educate the audience, they also help channels create engagement and that eventually may result in getting more advertisers.

    Havas Media Group India and South East Asia chief executive officer Anita Nayyar says, “Marketing campaigns, irrespective of the genre, are meant to improve the brand image or to address any other marketing objective of the channel and that also applies to news channels. Hence, it is a given that campaigns being run by news channels will help to promote them.”

    Network18 was the first to launch a campaign called #IndiaGives, wherein each employee of the network donated one day's salary to daily-wage workers and all those severely impacted due to this unprecedented crisis.

    The network is also running a full-fledged television and digital awareness and self-help campaign – #MakeYourOwnMask, which aims to create awareness about the most basic infection prevention and control measure – wearing masks outdoors. In addition, each news channel of the network has its own special programming.

    “Our campaigns are aligned with the issues of the day,” says Network18 chief executive officer – television news Avinash Kaul. “A key differentiator of most of our campaigns is that they are editorial-led, with our journalists championing them and our programming also reflects that. This adds a great deal of credibility to the campaigns. As a company, we always take the long view.”

    Stating that it has always been involved with causes that are aligned with nation-building, Kaul says, “We believe that institutions and great brands are built by being operationally nimble, caring and having a long term vision that aligns with national and societal concerns and aspirations.”

    News channels are always aligned to causes more than anybody else, says TRA Research CEO N Chandramouli. “Cause marketing is a very old tool used by news agencies and currently, they have taken the cause of COVID-19 scenario." He also adds the this is due to a lack of advertisers despite the exponential viewership growth in the recent past.

    Times Network has launched an umbrella campaign called ‘Fighting Fear with Facts’ that focusses on delivering fact-based reportage and defuse panic and fear while offering uninterrupted news to its viewers. The network’s news brands have also come up with special programming along with campaign initiatives like Factoids, Safety Tips, Do’s and Don’ts, Myth busters, among others.

    In the same line as its peers, Times Network has also launched the campaign ‘India Cares’ across its network channels to mobilise support from the viewers to raise funds to PM CARES Fund, to support the migrants and daily labourers, whose livelihoods have been challenged by the epidemic.

    “We believe in creating one campaign as the face of the brand rather coming up with various campaigns and confusing viewers,” says a source.

    “At this time of crisis, the communication shouldn’t be pushy about your product through campaigns. Rather, it should focus on asserting some motivation and inspiration to the viewers,” says DigitalKites senior vice-president Amit Lall.

    Unlike the other two, ABP News Network has launched different campaigns on its channels covering region-specific COVID-19 stories. The network’s Hindi news channel ABP News has initiated a campaign called #CoronakoDhona to strengthen the consciousness of the virus and ensure the safety of the people.

    The network’s Marathi news channel — ABP Majha along with a campaign has curated a special show called ‘Corona Parishad’ to impart the COVID-19 knowledge to the viewers. Similarly, an initiative on ABP Ganga called ‘Corona Ke Karam Yodha’ was telecast to throw light on the unsung heroes of COVID-19, whether they are policemen, doctors, or any other individuals.

    ABP News Network chief executive officer Avinash Pandey says: “We measure the success of our organisation through the kind of influence we have on our viewers. For us, nothing comes above the support and aid to people and communities in the time of need. COVID-19 has emanated a sense of disruption and despair worldwide. Through these initiatives and campaigns, our aim was to safeguard the health of the people, spread maximum awareness, create a positive societal impact and most importantly, fulfill our long-standing commitment to deliver the best at all times.”

    “The reason channels are coming up with a lot of campaigns is because they are seeing the sentiments of viewers are low and currently there are fewer advertisers buying ad space and inventories," adds Lall.

    “The campaigns run by news channels are being seen as public service and disseminating information to help build awareness of the unforeseen situation the country is in,” says Nayyar.

    Recently, the News Broadcasters Federation showed its resistance to media agencies trying to cut down ad rates by 50 per cent despite news being the most-watched genre.

    Even the News Broadcasters Association spoke about the fact that even top channels are seeing less than 50 per cent ad bookings even as agencies are trying to defer payments to channels.

    Even though news channels are doing their bit of social service, they will also need revenue to keep the business running. Under normal circumstances, channels may have roped in sponsors for various campaigns as well. But right now, the market looks bleak.

  • News channels under lockdown burden

    News channels under lockdown burden

    MUMBAI: The extension of nation-wide lockdown has affected the business of news broadcasters which are burdened with increased operating costs and less advertisement revenues.  

    The government has put the news channels under the essential services category. Going forward, the news channels will face the daunting task of sustaining operations with little or reduced ad revenue. The operating costs are the expenses for the maintenance and administration of business on a day-to-day basis.

    Asianet News Network chief operating officer Abhinav Khare is of the view that the extension of lockdown may impact the news channels’ business adversely. “From 30-45 days earlier, the network now is running on exceptional 90-day working capital due to this unprecedented virus situation.”

    “Revenue collection has become a massive issue for news channels and they are likely to face cash crunch issues sooner or later”, Khare says. “The advertisers are not able to pay news broadcasters immediately as their businesses are not operational due to the lockdown.”

    The lockdown, in a way, has come as a blessing in disguise for the news channels as they have been able to cut down on the operating costs of news channels. “Reporters don’t have to go out for reporting like they used to do before; they do stories digitally. Guests are joining shows virtually. Transport costs have also come down as employees have been asked to work from home,” a source from a leading Hindi news channel says.

    “Operating costs are currently manageable and measures to curb it will only be decided once this extended lockdown ends,” says Mathrubhumi News chief executive officer Mohan Nair. “With Kerala likely to be re-opened partially from Monday, there are chances that the situation may get back to normal.”

    Nair believes that it would be too early to predict anything about the future course of action with respect to the network’s business. “This is indeed true that we are unable to get advertisers on board, but expect that operating costs would normalise with the situation returning to normal.”

    Concerned about high operating costs amid the lockdown, News Broadcasters Association president Rajat Sharma has written to the central government either to reduce, remove or bring the goods and services tax in line with the print media industry. GST on advertising for the broadcasting industry is at 18 per cent and for print media it is at five per cent.

    ABP News Network chief executive officer Avinash Pandey says: “In terms of COVID-19-related programming, we have taken numerous initiatives and introduced innovative line-ups on all our news channels. These specially curated shows have garnered tremendous viewership and we have roped in sponsors for our channels.”

    Pandey, however, indicated that there won’t be any retrenchment or salary cut in order to reduce the operating costs. He believes that once the crisis is over, the network will be able to come back stronger with its strong content and programming line-up.  

    Brand and agency experts believe that despite high viewership, news channels are unable to attract maximum advertisers due to the substantial reduction in overall ad spend. They have been re-working their advertising strategy due to the COVID-19 situation.

  • ABP rebuffs link between its report and migrant gathering

    ABP rebuffs link between its report and migrant gathering

    MUMBAI: ABP News Network has rebuffed any link between a mob gathering at Mumbai’s Bandra West station and a story shown in its Marathi news channel ABP Majha as "entirely misconceived and being circulated with the sole intention of maligning the channel.”

    ABP Majha ran a news story on Tuesday morning suggesting that the railways may run special trains for migrant labourers to return to their hometowns. The story was broadcasted hours before prime minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation extending the lockdown till 3 May.

    “There is no denial of the railway ministry’s letter of 13 April 2020 recommending running of trains to return migrant labourers to their hometowns,” says the network’s spokesperson in a statement. However, minutes after PM Modi’s declaration of lockdown extension, the channel had run a story about the cancellation of trains and refunds till the extended lockdown ends, the statement also states.

    “Subsequent to PM Modi’s announcement at 10 am of the continuation of the lockdown and announcements thereafter from the ministry of railways with regard to cancellation of trains and refunds till 3 May, we ran multiple stories, shortly after the ministry’s announcement from 12.30 – 1.30 pm, on our channel clearly announcing that no trains will be running,” says the network. This story, it says, negated its morning one.

    “There is no conceivable way in which the crowds that gathered at the Bandra West station from around 3.45 pm can be linked to our (ABP Majha) stories,” says the network’s spokesperson.

    ABP Majha reporter Rahul Kulkarni has been arrested for spreading misinformation and deceiving people. The network, expressing shock and dismay about his arrest, said it “will be taking necessary and immediate steps in law.”

    The network further added: “We would like to say that before journalists are arrested there should be due verification of all facts and circumstances.”

    The senior journalist, meanwhile, has been granted bail by the court.

    As media has been put under the essential services category during this unprecedented crisis, the spokesperson in its statement says: “We can say with full confidence that we have not deviated from practices of responsible journalism, and make every possible good faith endeavour to ensure the accuracy of our information and news from credible sources before broadcasting the same.”

    Supporting ABP News Network and its channel’s report, News Broadcast Association president Rajat Sharma, requested Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to drop the charges and release the senior journalist Rahul Kulkarni. The president also urged the state government to instead file a complaint before the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA).

  • News channels fail to retain previous week’s shine; fall marginally in week 13 of BARC

    News channels fail to retain previous week’s shine; fall marginally in week 13 of BARC

    MUMBAI: As we are about to conclude the third week of the 21-day lockdown due to the COVID-19 situation, the overall news genre viewership has slumped marginally in week 13 (28 March – 3 April) of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, as compared to the earlier week (21-27 March).

    Hindi news channels fell by over 11 per cent, while English news channels by a mere 2 per cent. Despite the fall in week-on-week basis, the news channels have shown a stellar performance this week too in terms of viewership as same as the last two weeks i.e. week 11 and 12 of BARC.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the whole nation to go under lockdown and only news channels generate fresh content by giving a timely update of the rising infected and death counts.

    Leading the chart for the straight thirteenth week, TV Today Network’s Hindi news channel Aaj Tak has declined by over 19 per cent to 429,900 weekly impressions in the current week as compared to 532,102 in week 12. The channel reported the best numbers in terms of viewership in the last week.

    However, the channel has seen maximum growth among all national genre leaders, as it grew by around 300 per cent, on average impressions of the week 1 -11 as against the average of week 12-13.

    Retaining its second position for a second consecutive week, ABP News Network’s Hindi news channel ABP News has also dropped marginally by over 8 per cent to 311,382 weekly impressions in week 13 as against 340,659 in the previous week. For the first time ever, the channel has posted its best weekly viewership numbers in week 12 of BARC.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ Hindi news channel Zee News has maintained its third spot in the current week too; however, it has fallen by 11 per cent in terms of viewership. The channel garnered 300,324 weekly impressions in week 13 as compared to 337,359 impressions in the previous week.

    India TV has secured the fourth spot. Despite moving one rank up from the previous, the channel marginally declined by around five per cent to 282,228 impressions in week 13 versus 296,305 impressions in week 12.

    Struggling to make a place in the top five news channels’ list for the last two weeks, Republic Media Network’s Hindi news channel Republic Bharat has secured the fifth spot with 280,219 weekly impressions. The channel has always been featured in the top five channels' list in the urban segment HSM.

    Where all other channels declined marginally in week 13, Republic Media Network’s English news channel Republic TV has gained by over six per cent to 2082 weekly impressions in the current week as compared to 1962 in week 12. The channel has been the leader in terms of viewership for the straight thirteenth week of BARC.

    Retaining its second spot for the thirteenth week in a row, Times News Network’s English News channel Times Now declined by over six per cent to 1284 impressions in the current week as against 1375 impressions in week 12. The channel reported best-ever numbers in term of viewership in the previous week of BARC.

    TV Today Network’s English news channel India Today has dipped by 0.7 percent in terms of viewership in week 13. Maintaining its third spot, the channel garnered 1182 weekly impressions in week 13 as compared to 1190 impressions in the earlier week of BARC.

    In the megacities category, India Today has become the most-watched with number one rank. The channel grew by over 12 per cent to 657,000 impressions in megacities among NCCS 22 plus Male AB in week 13 as compared to 583,000 impressions in the last week.

    Similarly, Network18’s English news channel CNN-News18 has retained its fourth spot in the list for the third consecutive week of BARC. The channel slumped than its peers by over 23 per cent to 653 weekly impressions in week 13 as against 848 impressions in the previous week.

    Featuring for the very first time in the top five English news channel’s list so far this year, Zee Media’s international news channel has secured the fifth spot. The channel has gained at least 623 weekly impressions in week 13, little less than CNN-News18.

    According to a joint report released by BARC and Nielsen India on the crisis consumption – the impact of COVID-19, the overall news broadcasters grew by over 250 per cent in terms of viewership in week 13 as compared to combined week two and four of BARC.

  • ABP News Network asserts digital dominance

    ABP News Network asserts digital dominance

    MUMBAI: ABP News Network (ANN) has witnessed a massive consumption uptick on its digital platforms, owing to the strong, round-the-clock coverage on COVID-19. Garnering the trust of billions, the digital arm of ANN has become a credible choice for the viewers in every major news week. 

    According to the BARC and Nielsen Crisis Consumption report, viewership in the country has witnessed a rise of 11 per cent to 622 million viewers between 21 – 27 March 2020 (week 12) when compared to January 11-31, 2020 (week 2). Through minute-to-minute updates and comprehensive insights on the pandemic, ANN’s digital platform has garnered a whopping 15.7 billion impressions in the month of March (Source: YouTube Analytics), attesting their dominance on the digital front.

    In addition, the group has witnessed record-breaking viewership in March 2020, with 1.3 billion views on YouTube (Source: YouTube Analytics), surpassing the previously recorded numbers of the general election in May 2019, as content consumption on smartphones have increased by 12 per cent with users spending 3.8 hours a day on their devices.

    Apart from YouTube, ABP News & ABP Ananda have done exceptionally well on Facebook, keeping the viewers apprised and engaged. ABP News has garnered 12.34 million total interactions and 223 million views, surpassing its nearest competitor Aaj Tak with 45 per cent higher total interactions (Source: CrowdTangle; 20 March-31 March). And, ABP Ananda has achieved 2.28 million total interactions, six per cent higher total interactions than its nearest competitor Zee 24 Ghanta (Source: CrowdTangle; 20th Mar-31March 20).

    The BARC-Nielsen report also highlighted that viewers chose to ‘search’ for more news through multiple channels during the lockdown. In this light, ABP Live App has also emerged as the viewers’ topmost pick from Week 2 of March 2020 (09-15) to week 3 of March 2020 (16-22), observing a humongous upsurge with plus 46 per cent users and plus 138 per cent total video views.

    Since its inception, the digital arm of ABP News Network has championed issues on multiple spectrums – may it be social, political, environmental or cultural. The platform possesses a rich portfolio of diverse content that appeals to different age groups and audiences.

    ABP News Network chief executive officer Avinash Pandey says: “We are proud to be a pioneer in the digital news segment. With the COVID-19 situation evolving, we have seen it as our duty to provide the viewers with a veracious account of all developments through our digital platforms.” 

    “Our commitment to deliver the best, even amid trying times has brought us to this leading position and we are pleased to be the viewers’ most-preferred news destination. It is now time for advertisers to fine-tune their media plans amid the ongoing shifts in consumer behaviour to leverage the highly-engaged audiences across the digital spectrum,” adds Pandey.