ITV

Tag: Amar Deb

  • ‘We are taking reality television into the digital domain’ : Amar K Deb – Channel [V] head honcho

    ‘We are taking reality television into the digital domain’ : Amar K Deb – Channel [V] head honcho

    Reality talent hunt is one of the success pillars of Channel [V]. The music channel from the Star stable has launched a series of them – from Pop band Viva, which created a ‘Dhoom’ in the music circle, to [V] Super Singer. More are lined up this year.

    While embarking on the next phase of digital-cum-reality shows with [V] Mobile Singer, the channel plans to capitalise on Star Networks’ wireless division for introducing innovative and wacky concepts. It is exploring options to create ‘mobisodes’ for cellphone users.

    As the head of Channel V, Amar Deb believes that the success of the channel is based on its pioneering efforts. Ad revenue, he says, has grown by 40 per cent last fiscal while the other music channels have de-grown.

    In an interview with Indiantelevision.com’s Manisha Bhattacharjee, Deb expresses confidence on the success of the new properties which are lined up for launch this year.

    Excerpts:

    Channel [V] has always claimed that it has pioneered reality talent hunts. But why haven’t these `new-find talents’ gone on to become major music brands after the channel stops supporting them?
    Well, that’s the function of the music industry. For instance, in UK when Hearsay or Bardos Bands were launched, they were handed over to the music industry which took care of them. We act as incubators and take care of them for a maximum period up to three years. If they can fly after that, that is fantastic. Like Pratichee (India’s girl band – Viva) did and has just launched her album. We are a television station; we provide and discover talents. The music industry should take the next step.

    Pratichee may have been an exception. What about others?
    Well, you need to have a discipline. The channel can launch and groom you and do very many things, but finally it is up to you. It is just like any other job; you may get a break, but after that, you have to pump in your hard work and do your own thing.

    Reality genre has now spilled over to the general entertainment channels. Do you perceive this as a threat to music channels?
    We are just in the infancy of reality television. Yes, we are recently seeing the launch of many musical reality talent hunts. But that’s good, we have such a huge population. So the more the merrier!

    Would you be exploiting the reality genre further?
    Well, reality genre is the not `be all and end all’ of television. Yes, reality is great and indeed a fantastic proposition for Indian television. Channel [V] has been the first to explore and create this proposition; we have exploited this genre and have also brought in innovations to all these properties.

    So what is the next sequence of reality hunt?
    We have taken the reality talent hunt to a new stage -the digital level. [v] Mobile Singer is a clear demonstration of this.

    What are you planning to do with this property?
    [V] Mobile Singer will be launched on 24 October. We are also looking forward to the next super-model -Get Gorgeous -3 which should hit the air before the calendar year.
    How was [V] Mobile Singer conceptualised?
    The unique aspect of this show is that it is different from the conventional talent hunt that you have seen so far. There is no auditioning happening and neither is it limited to a few numbers of aspirants who have to face the jury. The show provides all budding singers an opportunity to participate and sing from their comfort zone, irrespective of place. All they have to do is dial in to register and sing any one of Bappi Lahiri’s songs.

    This is the next dimension of digital cum reality television. We have actually taken reality television into the digital domain, given the fact that last time when we tried out this kind of interface; it has brought us humungous success.

    So, what kind of promotions are you building around Mobile Singer?
    The promos will go on air in a week. There is a classic 360 degree campaign: hoardings, press and on-ground events like Karaoke parties are being organised. We will have road shows in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

    As being part of the Star TV Network we have the ability to leverage on this as on-air is in our back-bone and it is our strength. There are 22 million people who wake up to channel [V] every day.

    How has the channel performed in 2005?
    The year has been very good. Everything is looking up. We are involved with new shows and every show format is different from the other. We had a fantastic round of a wired show called Pepsi [v] TV Champions. Every show at the end is poles apart and conceptualized on different lines and this has been one of the reasons for success. Some other shows like [v] On The Run, [v] Get Gorgeous and [v] Freedom Expression are all different and have been success stories.

    Television is increasingly going mobile. Is your channel looking at this option of ‘mobisodes,’ now that your sister channel Star One has come up with its first creation?
    Yeah, you have to just keep watching your mobile screens. It will come soon. We are exploring this platform.

    Isn’t it a little weird to have Star One rather than a music channel like Channel [V] start this initiative of plunging into the mobisode platform?
    Why? Star One is part of the Star Network. I think The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is fantastic. It is completely superb. Good that they have gone ahead and done it. We are looking at the option and would be exploring that side of the platform. It is certainly going to happen – and soon.
    Is the Mobisode platform being used more as a new stream of ad revenue?
    Besides ad revenue, this platform provides you great viewer interaction and participation.
    Star Network has its digital division? How is Channel [v] planning to leverage it to its utmost?
    Yes, we are looking at it. But it is little early to talk about it.
    ‘We will exploit the mobisode platform. It will come on your mobile screens soon‘
    Movie marketing seems to be a great proposition for music channels?
    We are the chosen platform for marketing Bollywood movies. Channel V is the chosen media partner for Shaadi No 1, which is going to be the biggest release for Diwali. We have been doing this for about a year. We get a lot of content and at the same time we are able to promote the movie. We get access to the stars, the video clips and the music of the movie.The journey started off with Darna Manna Hai. But now we are lining up a series of shows weaved around Salamn Namaste and other movies. Preity and Saif cross-promoted our show Freedom Express.
    Which are the other movies that the channel has tied-up with?
    There are some, but they are in the pipe-line. I can’t reveal to you at this stage.
    With every movie tie-up, it is the same story. So how do you provide a uniqueness to each project?
    Each project is creative on its own. We are like an advertising agency for the movie company. So we work in a completely different fashion. We provide 360 degree creative solutions. It is not just playing the clip or music; more is offered and every time it is a new concept.
    Does it make business sense for music channels to tie-up with radio networks?
    As and when the peak programming comes up, we do have tie-ups with FM networks. Radio promotions help in frequency building, which is a good proposition. And we are in talks with some of the radio networks for the two properties – [V] Mobile Singer and Get Gorgeous -3.

    Music channels are engaged in launching contests. Do contests bring in extra eyeballs and translate into more ad revenues?
    Yes, it does bring in extra viewership. Moreover, it gives your viewers a chance to go to Robbie Williams concert or meet say a superstar like Shakira. It acts as a good connector allowing your viewers access to all these big shows. Contests are also very good for generating ad revenues.

    Will you foray into non-music programmes?
    No, we will not do any serials. Our core is music and we will stick to it. We are a music channel. We will do justice to that positioning and fulfill the demands of our poor consumers who demand good music. We will have music as our core content; it will be flanked by glamour and by fun.
    What is the paper that you presented at Promax DBA Awards at Singapore?
    I spoke about on- air promotions through icons. I presented Channel [v]’s icons; Lolya Kutty and Simpoo. And I also presented a film on KBC. As the presentation was on icons, KBC was yet another way to use an icon. They have never been exposed to the Indian sense of humour, which is actually astounding the world right now. Indian sense of humour is just coming of age.

    One is mostly used to movie and cricketing stars being signed on for endorsements. Now, a 2D animated mascot created by a television channel to promote its identity and shows is being roped in to endorse a diverse mix of products ranging from toothpaste to denim wear.

    Any new innovations for the channel?
    Well, we have introduced one of its kind speed breaker and another one is an end-slate. Both are two crazy things. Instead of Stay Tuned!, we have said ‘Stay tunnd!’ It is an innovation between ad breaks. It is an animated character who is completely inebriated with the amount of music that is being played on channel [v] and bangs into a lamp-post and falls down. And the viewer says … Stay Tunnd! So it is a classic break bumper, while other channels state Stay Tuned! We got a take on it and said Stay Tunnd!

    The other thing that we have done is innovate on `Brought to you By,’ which has been treated as Brought to you Bai! We have created a character called Bai… a Maharastrian bai, the one we can identify with. The bai is an animated caricature who uses the side space of the television screen and she exploits the space doing the household work while the ad is airing on the screen. This is the first time it has been exploited and it has never been used by traditional television.

    Does your channel offer complete back-to-back music without any advertisements?
    No! Advertisements are good, yaar! It is great to watch also. Indian advertising is really doing so well also. Why do you want to have a section without these fabulous ads? Aside from the fact that ads bring in revenue, it is also very entertaining. And we are not looking at that right now.

    What are your forward looking plans?
    Long hours at work. Too many shows to launch, many more innovations to come and many more tie-ups also. We have been doing reality-based stuff, but it wouldn’t be fair to stay we just stick to reality. Like we have moved into digital reality hunt with Mobile Singer. So we will get into whatever is innovative.

    If cool is the definition of MTV, what is the definition of channel [V]?
  • Music channels unanimous against sleazy remix videos

    Music channels unanimous against sleazy remix videos

    MUMBAI: While they are fierce competitors, there is one thing that music channels agree upon: that content on air must not offend anybody.

    Therefore they have agreed to a request made by the Mumbai police not to show obscene videos of re-mixed songs.

    Speaking to indiantelevision.com Channel (V) head honcho Amar Deb said the broadcaster had always followed a standards and practices policy. “As a part of the Star network we know that we have a responsibility concerning everything that goes on air.

    “Therefore every video goes through a screening process. Once they are okay with it only then does it air. The fact that adult content may be allowed after midnight will not change our strategy in any way.”

    An Etc spokesperson said that the channel was in the process of forming a committee. “It will consist of company employees. Once it is approved by the senior management then we will present our initiative to the police. It is important that we be careful about what goes on air failing which we might be guilty of not following the law of the land.”

    Meanwhile DCP Sanjay Apranti was quoted in media reports saying that notices had been issued to music channels for showing videos of remixed songs.

    The police have also targetted obscene movie posters. Apranti said that the makers of films like Tezaab, Kamakshi and Model also appeared before the police following notices served on them over the obscene posters of the films put up in the city.

    The social service branch of Mumbai police had last month issued notices to Mahesh Bhatt and several other filmmakers over obscene posters of their movies.

  • [V]’s ‘Super Singer’ simulcast strategy hits high ratings notes on Plus

    [V]’s ‘Super Singer’ simulcast strategy hits high ratings notes on Plus

    MUMBAI: Channel [V]’s Super Singer, Star India’s response to Sony’s Indian Idol, which debuted on 2 December, has given reason enough for officials at India’s lead network to smile. The simulcast strategy adopted by the network for the first episode of telecasting it on five channels across the bouquet has ensured wide sampling and high TRPs.

    Super Singer pulled in 6.9 TVR in Hindi speaking markets C&S 4+ on Star Plus and 4.8 TVR in the all India C&S 4+ market according to TAM data, the show has made it to the 22nd slot on the charts. Attributing Super Singer’s initial success to the simulcast, Channel [V] head honcho Amar Deb says, “The simulcast has ensured sampling at its best for the show. With 12.7 million tune-ins, the show has ensured to get in urban and youth vieweship through Star One and Channel [V], and the heartland viewership through Star Plus, Star Gold and Star Utsav.”

    Talking about reach figures, the show managed a reach of of 11,061 across five channels of which Star Plus contributed 9,286.

    It is interesting to note here, that both of [V]’s earlier music talent hunts Pop Stars 1 and 2 followed the same strategy during their respective launches so as to ensure wider sampling.

    In the music channels arena, Super Singer commanded more than 50 per cent of the eyeballs for the overall music channel viewership. Among its core audience, 5 metro C&S ABC 15-34 it dominated the slot with a 54 per cent share. Looking at Channel [V]’s figures, Sec ABC (15-34) 6 metros garnered 0.44 TVR and 0.5 TVR, excluding Chennai.

    It’s no doubt been one great kick start for Super Singer, with the show making optimum use of the Star platform. What now remains to be seen is if the show manages to sustain and capitalise on its initial sampling and surge [V]’s ratings considering its niche viewership.

  • Channel [V] restructures team, VJ Luke Kenny is programming head

    Channel [V] restructures team, VJ Luke Kenny is programming head

    MUMBAI: Channel [V] has restructured its team with VJ Luke Kenny being made the head of programming.

    Aditya Thakur, senior manager in content and communications, has been promoted to head marketing.

    Roopali Atre, who worked as creative director in Balaji Telefilms, has joined Channel [V] as the associate vice-president and executive producer.

    “Kenny is promoted as the head of music programming and MARs (Music and Artist Relation), “says Channel [V] head honcho Amar Deb, speaking on restructuring of the team.

    Channel [V], says Deb, will be launching three new properties in December – Lola TV, Pop Diary and Launch Pad.

    Lola TV is a talk show where host Lolakutty, attired in South Indian saree, will chat up with celebrity guests. The show will make its debut on 1 December at 9 pm.

    Noted actress Perizaad will feature in the first episode. The following episode will see Aftab and Dino, among many others. The one-hour show will have repeat telecasts on Thursdays at 12:30 and Sundays at 3 pm.

    Pop Diary will profile personalities associated with music. The first episode will profile the Band of Boys. The show will also highlight the performance of the Boy Band at a Panvel school.

    The channel is also launching a seasonal property titled Launch Pad. The show will feature the talented youths bands who aspire to make it big in the field of music, through their group band.

  • “We have already conquered the music space, now we are aiming our guns at mass entertainment” : Amar K Deb – Channel [V] head honcho

    “We have already conquered the music space, now we are aiming our guns at mass entertainment” : Amar K Deb – Channel [V] head honcho

    Channel [V]’s head honcho Amar Deb isn’t really known for sugar coating his opinions.Although his hands are full with the current big reality hunt, [V] Super Singer, Deb seems the least bit hassled. ‘We have already conquered the music space, now we are aiming our guns at the mass entertainment space,’ he says.

    Though busy flitting between cities, Deb managed to pack in some punch in a breezy interview that took place, interestingly, while stuck in Mumbai’s nightmarish traffic. Read on for a t?te-?-t?te that transpired between Deb and indiantelevision.com‘s Trupti Ghag

    How was [V] ‘Super Singer’ conceptualised? What are the new activities that you are looking at this time?
    Contrary to the perception, Super Singer is an original concept. We came up with the idea after a series of brainstorming sessions.

    And yes, third time around, the feeling is that of ‘been there, done that’. So this time on, we will be using the latest voice measuring gizmo, which will help us identify the width of the voice, the scale at which the singer can sing, and the octaves he/she can reach.

    Also, we are using Star’s SMS platform 7827 in big way for the selection process. The audience can SMS their choice of contestant and help us pick the winner.

    And unlike certain others, our heavyweight jury is going down to every single city to judge the talent. That, in addition to the local jury, which by the way, does not comprise spot boys and executive producers.

    It looks like there has there been a steady decline in the promotion from Popstar 1 to Popstar 2 to now…
    No! We are promoting it much like Popstars 2. Since we pioneered the entire reality format, now people don’t really bother with the promotions.
    Why aren’t you keen on on-ground promotions?
    We have Star Plus, the biggest media vehicle on our side. We really don’t need anything else. For on-ground connect, we do a lot of college connects, presence in youth hangouts. Our biggest promotions vehicle is on air and will remain so.

    Why don’t you utilise much of print?
    When your viewership is low, you require print ads. When you are doing phenomenally well you do not require print.

    How has the response to the ‘[V] Super Singer’ been?
    We had close to 6,000 people outside the auditorium at Delhi. All of them just came there, mostly after hearing of it by word of mouth. They had seen what we had done with the Popstars. So, people just came in because they know, if you dream the big dream, Channel [V] can make it happen.

    And the heavy turnout was despite the promotion blitz and the huge monies poured in by our dear competitors to plug their fare.

     

    So the talent hunts really have been like a Cinderella story…
    Completely! Take for instance Aasma; there is a girl called Neeti Mohan who lives somewhere in Delhi; today she is Neeti from Aasma. Then, there is a girl called Mahua Kamat who is from Pune; today she is Mahua from Viva.

    Not only are we firmly grounded in the reality television space and music talent hunts. We have a great capability of making stars, which is why people come to us and flock in such big numbers.

     

    Looking at the crowd that came in Delhi, you must be obviously expecting greater numbers from Mumbai. Is that the reason why you are not publicising the dates and venue for auditions…
    Yes, we are expecting a huge turnout. But Mumbai auditions come in much later. Currently, the first leg is being held in Delhi, Chandigarh and Jaipur.
    ‘Not only are we firmly grounded in the reality television space and music talent hunt; we have a great capability of making stars, which is why people come to us and flock in such big numbers‘

    Besides music talent hunts, [V] has built up its reality content with travelogues. How was that conceptualised?
    Freedom Express 1 was a phenomenal experience, which is why Freedom Express 1 and 2 led to [V] on the Run. [V] on the Run helped us intensify brand [V] in India. It helped popularise brand [V] with audiences in places where we would otherwise have not had much contact other than on-air.

    So ‘Freedom Express’ and ‘[V] on the Run’ were brand building exercises. But what about ‘Get Gorgeous’?
    [V] on the Run was a well rated show. But Get Gorgeous got ratings of 2.12 for a pivotal episode and a channel share of 21 per cent. In fact, for that episode, it outshone every single channel.

    Are you talking about the music channel niche?
    No. I am talking about Sony.

    But shouldn’t music channels concentrate on catering to music demands rather then trying to experiment with varied genres?
    We define our space as music, humour, and glamour. We work around our core – music – very strongly. So while we embed all our content in music, we do flank it with offerings like Get Gorgeous, Phone Bhootand great content like talent hunts.

    Has the music universe grown? What is the market that you are looking at currently?
    The music universe has definitely grown. But we are just not looking at the music universe. We are also looking at the youth space. We are Star’s youth arm and everything to do with youth the Star group addresses through [V].

    We hear that your ‘Get Gorgeous’ finds got to walk the ramp at the Rome Fashion week. Was it pre-conceptualised, or did you chance upon an opportunity?
    We were to launch India’s four supermodels and we were going to provide them with an elite management contract. Something that every upcoming model in the country dies for.

    We made them walk the Rome Fashion Week. They modeled Suneet Varma’s creations. They got to meet Valentino and it was all pre-conceptualised.

    How did you manage to convince the Fashion week guys?
    Channel [V] is very good at that… (laughs)

    ‘The key to a great reality show is critically how sensitively you shoot it. Which is why reality on Channel [V] works and reality on other platforms doesn’t or hasn’t‘

    What according to you is the unique formulation for a successful reality show?
    The key to a great reality show is critically how sensitively you shoot it with. And our crew led by Deepak Dhar is the best in terms of sensitivity because when they are shooting friendships form. In fact, many of the Popstars finalists and entrants are still in touch with us.

    Aren’t reality shows touted as cashing in on people’s tears?
    That is what other channels look at. We clearly look at building relations. Which is why reality on Channel [V] works and reality on other platforms doesn’t – or hasn’t.

    Aren’t you hassled by the slew of reality shows set to flood the market?
    No! It is typical of the myopic way in which India looks at the content. There was Kaun Banega Crorepati, and then there were two other shows that were launched immediately. What happened to them? While KBC was a defining moment in TV history, the two shows were nothing but damp squibs.

    Indian audiences are far more intelligent than people would like to believe.

    But clearly, there is going to be a case of overkill. Aren’t we already seeing the effects on your hunts?
    No! We are completely confident and my confidence has been borne out of the number of people that have showed up in Delhi.

    How does the [V] growth chart look?
    We, in the last three years,we have grown by about 300 per cent. I think that itself is a hell of a lot.

    But the phenomenal jump was in the first year itself, post the launch of Popstar 1?
    Not completely true. [V] made a phenomenal jump with Aasma- Popstar 2 as well. It whipped the rest of the music television stations. In fact, it sort of actually decimated MTV.

    Participation apart, how has the influx affected the advertising community’s response to your latest talent hunt ‘Super Singer’?
    On the on-air programming front, [V] Super Singer is completely sold out. Plus, we have a great bunch of sponsors for the on ground activity.

    The title sponsor Samsung is a perfect fit because it a technologically advanced company and it suits the technology that we are using in Super Singer.

    But there doesn’t seem to be great on ground promotions taking place. What about the promotional gigs and cut the queue passes that were so in vogue last time on?
    Of course we are giving out the passes and have quite a few interesting tie-ups with Mc Donald’s.

    Interestingly, our ‘cut the queue’ pass idea is being imitated by our dear friends at Sony.
    ‘In music television, when you are playing non-music content it better be small‘

    What are plans for [V] in the next six months?
    In the next six months, we want to demonstrate how [V] is the chosen platform for music talent hunts. We want to show very clearly how we have the best credentials in the business for reality shows.

    Lifestyle seems to be the next upcoming genre. What is it that you are looking at doing next in that arena?
    Lifestyle has been a part of [V] way before it became cool. We had a show called Cool Stop, we got Get Gorgeous shots, [V] Style Junkie. We will continue coming up with some more brilliant concepts.

    Are vignettes really considered as programming of the future?
    In music television, it really helps. When you are playing non-music content it better be small. But if you have great programming, it would have to be in the half hour and one hour slot.

    How are you looking at programming for Super Singer?
    From an on-air perspective, I guess you will just have to wait and watch. But we promise, it is going to be the most stunning show.

    What is next after ‘Get Gorgeous’?
    Our sponsors were extremely happy with the response for get Gorgeous 1, and Get Gorgeous 2 is on the cards.

    Is it the same set of talent pool that you are looking at?
    We are looking at a completely new show.

    What about ‘Get Handsome’?
    No. That is not something that we plan for near future.

    Has the star value of the music channel’s VJs diminished?
    I don’t think so. Actually [V] VJ’s are still considered hip and cool, even in terms of ads that they get. Take a look at the sheer number of ads they bag and films they do. The kind of products our VJ’s endorse are never toilet bowls.

    Why isn’t [V] keen on a VJ Hunt?
    You need to do that when you are desperate (scoffs).

    (An afterthought) But I don’t know, we just might do a VJ hunt.

    Last heard, there was a show on technology in offing. When are you planning to do that?
    There is something in offing which cannot be revealed at this stage. I can promise that its going to shake up television programming.
    ‘The kind of products our VJ’s endorse are never toilet bowls‘

    Everyone says Popstar 2 didn’t do as well as Popstar 1.
    Completely untrue. In fact Popstars 2 doubled the Popstars 1 ratings and brought in double the channel share of Popstars 1. And if ratings are anything to go by then, Popstars 2 was more successful than Popstars 1.

    After you adopted the `Shudh Sakahari'(vegetarian music) stance, what has been the response from the industry?
    Star actually has a very stringent S&P – Standards & Practices policy. The S&P cell looks at what goes on air. Plus our programming team sits and edits videos that come to us.

    Some of the videos that have come to us with CBSE’s ‘U’ certification have been unfit to put on air. And we have had to edit them.

    But by and large, music industry now knows that [V]’s policy on music video is so strong that it will not allow any form of smoking, killing, violence, mayhem, and of course blatant sex. We are considered amongst the most painful people by the music companies.

    What about the current breed of music being churned out?
    There is some great music coming in. Indian music has been really coming into its own, because of which there is phenomenal music. Even Bollywood music is superb.

    Interestingly, some of the remixes are musically brilliant; it is just the nature of the video that makes you cringe.

    Has ‘Lukes After Hours’ expanded the late night viewer base?
    Yeah, it has. In fact, Luke – we call him the messiah of music – has a huge fan following. The core channel [V] audience had done a huge ‘Hurrah’ when he came back.

    Is there a prime time band for a music channel?
    Yeah, there is, and amazingly it is in the morning 7-10 am. But not so for the late night, as at late night band you are actually competing with Star Plus and you really don’t have a hope in hell!

    [V] has really taken on animation in a big way…
    [V] has been largest champion of animation, be it hand drawn or clay or any other kind of animation. We have a huge number of animators working with us in-house.

    Simpoo is of course our resident celebrity. In addition, we have our very own celebrity VJ Lola Kutty.

    How important are humour based programming? And who is Lola Kutty?
    We do a lot of humour based programmes. The latest VJ – Lola Kutty is hugely popular. She is a very pretty lady and is a London trained actress and can do voices and accents in many languages.

    Isn’t action adventure working as a reality genre?
    No, we have just given it a season break. Channel [V] has done a lot of out of the box thinking and before its time.

    What about live programming?
    We used to do live shows – former VJ Trey used to host one. But given the laws in the country, we can’t any more. The government has some problem with live programming.a
  • MTV swings Iglesias concert broadcast partner deal away from [V]

    MTV swings Iglesias concert broadcast partner deal away from [V]

    MUMBAI: MTV has just taken the wind out of Channel [V]’s sails regarding next month’s Enrique Iglesias concert. In a deal that was stitched together last week with event organiser DNA Networks, MTV is now the broadcast partner for the event.

    It may be recalled that when the press conference to announce the concert details was called earlier this month, it had been declared that Channel [V] was the broadcast partner. In fact the Star Group music channel had even planned a contest around the same wherein participants stood to win backstage passes for the event. The concerts will take place on Sunday 11 April at the MMRDA Grounds in the west Mumbai suburb of Bandra and on 13 April in Bangalore. Ticket sales for the concerts have commenced from today.

    DNA Networks has confirmed the development to indiantelevision.com. However the company’s MD T. Venkat Vardhan could not be reached for his comments on the reasons for the switch.

    When contacted, [V]’s head honcho Amar Deb claimed the channel had decided to back out of the deal as it was not commercially viable. “DNA Networks was unable to meet certain commitments which had been promised. Therefore we decided to call it a day,” Deb said.

    MTV’s senior V-P marketing Vikram Raizada said that MTV had tied up for Iglesias’ 7 Tour not just in India but also in Jakarta, Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila.

    “The biggest artistes be it Bryan Adams, Roger Walters hang out with us. Enrique will be our most wanted artiste in April. We have started beaming on air specials around him. One of them is the making of the video. There will also be music blasts of him in shows like MTV Graveyard Shift.

    “We will be unveiling a contest shortly. This will give seven people the chance to get up close and personal with him. Our on ground events will roll out after 1 April. This is how we usually conduct promotions around our shows. We will have posters at youth hangouts like Barista. Our VJs will also be travelling to youth hangouts along with the other sponsors of the event. Passes will be handed out. This will basically be a hangout crawl. We will air excerpts from the concert a month after the event has taken place.”

    Raizada added that the broadcaster had also tied up with Q Jam, the electronic jukeboz franchise. Q Jam has around 100 installations across the country at Caf Coffee Day outlets. DNA Networks has already commenced a robust campaign in the outdoor, print and below the line areas.

    The gates at the concert venues open at 6:30 pm and the shows will commence at 7:30 pm. The tickets to the show in Mumbai are priced at Rs 1,200 and Rs 800 while the tickets to the show in Bangalore are priced at Rs 600 and Rs 900. Tickets are being sold at all Caf Coffee Day and Planet M outlets. Fans can also have their tickets home delivered by booking their tickets online at www.dnanetworks.com or over the phone by calling 56680088 in Mumbai and 25522622 in Bangalore.

  • (V) ties up with McDowell’s for Enrique Iglesias concert

    (V) ties up with McDowell’s for Enrique Iglesias concert

    MUMBAI: This summer Mumbaiites are going to feel sizzling Latino heat in a big way. Pop sensation Enrique Iglesias will perform in the city on 11 April at the MMRDA Grounds in the suburb of Bandra. After that he travels to Bangalore on 13 April.

    As with the successful Rolling Stones concert last year, the event is being done by McDowells in association with event management company DNA Networks. The broadcast partner is Channel (V). Iglesias’ three albums have sold nearly a million copies in India. The event, which is part of his Seven World Tour will see him perform a mix of new tracks and favourites like Addicted, Bailamos, Be With You. (V) will air the show a month after the concert has taken place.

    Speaking on the occasion last evening, UB Group chairman Dr Vijay Mallya admitted straightaway that somehow the news had been leaked in advance. “sAll day I have been receiving SMS’ from people urging me to confirm the news. People are going to be in a tizzy when the singer comes down. For us, the mega entertainment platform gives us an opportunity to keep the brand contemporary, meet the changing lifestyles of our consumers and also keep up with the emerging trends. Iglesias’ music transcends geographical boundaries and languages. Similarly our brand cuts across different sections of consumers.”

    DNA Networks MD T Venkat Vardhan said that around 6000 kilos of equipment would be flown in. “For the first time, an Indian concert will feature three upstage ramps. That is because Enrique loves interacting with the audience. His band comprises ten members and the percussion will be one of the major highlights of his performance. The tickets will be priced at Rs 1200 and Rs 800. A campaign to create awareness about the same will kick off on television and in print from 23 March.”

    Channel (V) head honcho Amar Deb added that its request show gets a request for an Iglesias song everyday. ” We will be running a contest whereby winners can get backstage passes for the event. The great thing about Enrique is that he is very much a fun loving outgoing person and it will not take long for fans to get a sense of that. To millions of female devotees the object of devotion is coming. We had earlier partnered with McDowells and DNA Networks for the Bryan Adams concert and that was a fantastic experience for us.”

    Pepsi is one of the co-sponsors for the event, which is not surprising. Iglesias is one of its brand ambassadors. In anticipation of the event Universal Music another partner is coming out with a special CD Enrique Iglesias Seven: The Tour Package.

  • SMS initiatives dominate channels’ Valentine’s Day interactive plans

    SMS initiatives dominate channels’ Valentine’s Day interactive plans

    A major buzzword this Valentine weekend is SMS. Music channels have taken to this route in a big way for an event, which has over the years, turned into a huge commercial opportunity.

    Channel [V] has teamed up with Idea Cellular for the Valentine Ka Pyaara Contest. To enter, the viewer has to send an SMS love message to 7827. The broadcaster‘s official Valentine‘s cupid couple, Purab and Kim, will do the rest and pick the winner. Cupid‘s own VJs will hitch 10 couples on a romantic valentine dinner date. One winner gets packed off to exotic Malaysia to party with his/her Valentine. To promote the contest, Kim and Purab who play Cupid in the promo, have been travelling across key markets, in a road show to generate excitement about this contest.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com about the logic behind SMS and gains expected to be made Channel [V] India head Amar Deb said, ” The contest is a great example of how Channel [v] can effectively act as a platform for co-promotions with some of India‘s leading brands in a manner that creates great content and also effectively helps in effective communication and brand building for the partner brand who in this case is Idea.”

    Dwelling on the importance of SMS as a medium. Deb added, ” At Channel [V], we try and integrate SMS into all our content, whether shows or response led activity such as contests, polls, etc. Another example is our innovation is our ringtones. We have launched a property with the specific purpose of brand intensification. It‘s called The Right Bottom. when a song plays on channel [v] a code appears on the”right bottom” of frame. sms the code to 7827 (star) and within seconds you‘ll have your favourite song as a ringtone. “

    “SMS is now a tool that has become a tremendous response mechanism for all contests/content on Channel [V]. For contests that have quick deadlines and faster results, SMS acts as the best response mechanism. On one occasion, we had a speed based contest as part of The Chosen One campaign with Bon Jovi. Contest questions were scrolled on air across all the Bon Jovi content that month and viewers had to respond as fast as they could, only via SMS. When time and speed are of essence, SMS is the best option.”

    As far as tracking the responses are concerned, Deb said that the broadcaster has a specially dedicated department that manages all the wireless activity across the channel/network. They have some intense technical processes/equipment/software that helps them manage the various wireless databases. “The results definitely indicate that SMS has soon emerged to be the number one mode of response as there are enormous numbers of entries received via SMS each time a contest airs on Channel [V]. While emails too are extremely popular, SMSs have definitely made a dent in other modes of response.”

    B4U Music meanwhile has been hosting a Vote Valentine season this month. 150 all time great love songs both from here and abroad were short listed. The broadcaster has been showcasing them from 1 February. To cast their vote viewers can log onto www.b4utv.com or SMS VOTEVAL to 8888. The top 20 love songs will be showcased in a two hour special on 14 February. This Vote Valentine special is being brought by Parle Hide ‘n Seek and in association with Reliance India Mobile. At stake for winners are stay packages by the Usha Shriram Hotels in Simla, Manali, Mysore and Goa.

    Etc will have the ubiquitous Mr. Prem answer viewer SMS messages on 3030. Viewers can ask him questions about the unique love emotion, requests, problems, poems for ones special Valentine. Prem Uncle will answer them 14 February.

    As far as programme innovations are concerned, Deb added, “We came up with the whole concept of the Channel [v] Love Parade! It is a unique 24 hour love special featuring some of the world‘s and India‘s most cherished Love songs, making Channel [v] the ultimate destination of romance, love and sheer good heartedness this Valentines Day. [v] Crush also has a special Valentine‘s Day Episode.

    ETC will air the special Nacho at 7:30 pm. Singers like Shaan, Babul Supriyo, Tarana, Bageshree, DJ Amit and DJ Tintin will belt out peppy love songs.

    For the second year in a row, MTV will have its Asia awards bash on 14 February in Singapore. To build up awareness, the channel had its MTV Asia Awards bash for India last month. The theme naturally was love. The prizes included tickets to Singapore to watch the show and goodies from sponsors Toyota and Hewlett Packard.

    On air, the channel will have a special, revolving around the movie Lakeer. This airs on 14 February at 11 am and 8 pm. The film stars among others Sunil Shetty and John Abraham, who will talk about the different aspects of love such as the first crush, first date.

    Sony is incorporating the love theme in its show Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin on 12 February. Jassi showers the gang of secretaries with gifts and goodies. Meanwhile the clan of secretaries too have something special in store for Jassi. They have planned to gift Armaan a Valentine gift on behalf of Jassi. While Jassi is clueless about the entire thing, Armaan happens to open his gift and is stunned yet ecstatic to see a Jassi doll. While everyone is swapping Valentine gifts, Jassi is yet a little grim and sad, but her sadness is short-lived when Armaan has a Valentine gift for her too.

    Arch rival Star Plus is taking a more direct approach. The broadcaster is having a contest where the viewers mail Valentine messages to popular characters Sujal and Kashish from the soap Kahiin To Hoga. The two best messages get a prize. This could be a dinner date with the stars or visit to the sets to meet the stars.

    As far as story inserts are concerned, the episode of the sitcom Kichdi on 10 February on Star Plus saw the love theme set in. Parminder and Himanshu were guided together by Jayshree Bhabhi as a Valentine‘s Day gift from her. The other members of the Parekh family too have the lovers‘ welfare at heart and are doing their own bit of planning. The end result was sheer mayhem as more than one Parminder turns up. Actor and co-producer Jamnadas Majethia summed it up saying, “This is a comical way to celebrate Valentine Day.”

    Taking a different track is Hallmark. Its plans for Valentine‘s Day involve online greeting cards. Speaking to indiantelevision.com Hallmark Channel India, South Asia country manager Amitabh said, “We are running a micro site to promote Valentine‘s Day. We have conceptualised the Hallmark Channel Love Divine e-cards contest which is being promoted on MSN and on air.

    “One simply has to send Hallmark Channel Love Divine e-cards to friends and loved ones. The more e-cards one sends the higher the chances of winning. At the end of the three winners will be chosen from a raffle. Winners stand to win a pair of His and Hers‘ gold plated watches along with a goodie bag from us. Besides India the Hallmark Channel Love Divine e-card Lucky Draw is open to viewers in Singapore and Malaysia.”

    Dwelling on the logic behind the unique stunt And what Hallmark was looking to gain, Amitabh said, “Celebrating Valentine‘s Day is significant to Hallmark Channel, as it is a ‘relationship‘ that needs to be celebrated. We wanted to do something thrilling especially at a time where E-cards hold sway. We thought it would be the best way to reach out to our viewers.”

    The most unique case of a story insert is Pogo. The love themes will feature animated characters Bugs Bunny and the irrepressible Pink Panther. Kicking things off is the Bugs Bunny Valentine Special. This airs on 14 February at noon. Elmer Fudd is hunting for love this season, as he plays the role of Cupid.

    He aims his arrows and casts spells on some of Bugs Bunny‘s best friends. However, Bugs doesn‘t believe in cupid‘s powers. The story revolves around how the winged Elmer proves Bugs wrong by showing him a world of love.” This will be followed by Pink at First Sight at 12:30 p.m. The cool Pink Panther works as a singing messenger on the day of love. Antics on the job entangle the breezy Panther with a jealous husband, vicious hounds, a sleek thief, and tough gangsters. Finally, our hero meets the ideal feline Valentine of his dreams, thus rounding out this fun-filled holiday special.

    Zee Cinema has been doing innovative marketing spins around its movie festival Dil Deke Dekho. Under the band the channel has been airing romantic all-time-hits like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak every night this month at 9 pm. A special Zee Cinema Dil Deke Dekho van has been moving across 60 to 70 cities in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh and Kolkata. The van interacts with college students, bystanders and residential colonies and will be quizzing them on Bollywood movies.

    Winners get mementos of Dil Deke Dekho. Zee Cinema‘s assistant VP marketing Prakash Ramchandani said that the broadcaster gets an average of 2500 people a day participating. The presence of curious bystanders adds to the visibility of the brand. Also Zee Cinema recently started actively using the outdoor medium to get the message across as well as print insertions. FCB Ulka has designed this. While there is no measurement system in place for the outdoor medium Ramchandani said that what works is a crisp visual at an impactful location. That is what the broadcaster was able to achieve he said. The broadcaster is also running a contest in association with Win just before the movie starts. VCDs are handed out as prizes.

  • “All our advertisers have their cheque books ready for Popstars III…” : Amar Deb Channel [V] VP-content and communication

    “All our advertisers have their cheque books ready for Popstars III…” : Amar Deb Channel [V] VP-content and communication

    There is no method in his madness, yet delivering mind-blowing content is what drives Channel [V]’s new captain, Amar Deb. The 30-something creative powerhouse is obsessed with taking music television to new dimensions.

    A Bangalore boy, with an ‘Admiral’ father and a ‘newsreader’ mother, Deb moved to Mumbai in pursuit of the unknown. All he carried was a punching bag filled with his worldly possessions and life-size dreams to make it big.

     

    Kicking off with voice-overs and jingles to pay for rent, coffee and soota (cigarettes), Deb shifted gears to become a copywriter. Four months later, his debut art direction effort was awarded a National Award for Public Awareness Advertising. And the rest, as they say, is history…

    Deb’s advertising years saw him work with agencies like Leo Burnett and Lintas, and adding loads of Abbys, CAGs (Communication Arts Guild) and other feathers in his cap. In 2001, Channel [V] offered him a new challenge, enticing him to turn things around at the placid music channel. That’s when he made the switch as creative director for the channel.

    An integral member of the team that has led [V] to achieve a modicum of success, Deb has created innovative programming like [V] Goddess and the Mind It campaign amongst others.

    Taking time out from ‘creating madness’ at [V], Deb spoke to indiantelevision.com’s Hetal Adesara about his responsibilities, the channel’s programming setup and his future plans.

     

    Excerpts:

    How do you see programming in music channels in India evolving?

    As far as Channel [V] is concerned, we have been on the leading edge of programming with innovations like PopStars, Patli Gali and [V] Dares You. So we will continue to lead the pack in terms of innovations.

    What is the programming breakup at Channel [V]?

    As of now, it’s 75:25 (Hindi:English) but it’s very dynamic. Two years ago, there was Dil Chahta Hai, so at that time it would have peaked to 90:10. There were a couple of other Hindi movies that were also launched at that time which had terrific content. So we keep our programming mix very dynamic.

    What are your views on CAS? If it is implemented, how will it affect the channel?

    If CAS does come about, it will definitely affect our channel because we are the only pay channel in the music genre. However, I am very confident of our content and also sure that the viewers would demand it by paying for it.

    As far as reality shows are concerned, after Crush, Patli Gali and Viva, it’s now the Channel [V] Popstars II – Aasma. How well has the reality genre worked for you and what is the response that Aasma is getting?

    The response is absolutely amazing. We went to launch the album two days before the concert at Planet M at Shopper’s Stop in Mumbai. There were so many kids lined up there that it was very difficult to walk past them. They knew every single word of Aasma’s song Chandu Ke Chacha and also the steps. That song had played on air only for five days. So Aasma is a phenomenon. It’s not only the product of a show – it is a fantastic band.

    At the concert, there were 40,000 people which has never happened anywhere in our country. The cops had to turn away 20,000 people as there were issues of counterfeit passes and all sorts of crazy things happening just because people wanted to come and see Aasma. I think it has done really well for us.
    “I am very confident of our content and also sure that viewers would demand it by paying for it, if CAS comes about”

    What next? Is Popstars III in the reckoning?

    We are examining all our possibilities. What I can say right now is that all our viewers want it. All our advertisers have their cheque books ready. Everyone wants to back it again. So let’s see…

    How do you conceptualise a programme?

    Oh, I typically wake up in a tent somewhere in the middle of a mountain and think of a wild idea and then come to office and ask my gang to work on it.

    Well… jokes apart… actually we have a bunch of department heads, very talented young kids. We all sit down and brainstorm, we identify gaps in our programming or gaps in a particular genre and we plug them.

    How important is a VJ to a music channel?

    VJs are absolutely critical to a music channel because they represent the personality of the channel. They are the best part of music television.

    In our case, for instance, Gaurav is India’s funniest man. Yudi has a fan following in the club circuit like no one else. Kim is style personified. Purab is the heart throb of the nation. Women are crazy about him. And Shruti is our latest secret weapon. Just wait and watch what we do with her.

    What framework do you operate on in terms of the language used and body displayed in the music videos, if any?

    We have a very strict music policy. Every video that comes in, goes through a system of checks and balances before it is passed. We have extremely stringent norms. We have an internal audit system which is called S&P – Standards & Practices. A music video only plays on air if it passed by them.

    We always insist on a ‘U’ certificate if we find the content to be slightly strange.
    “Extreme violence, vulgarity are a no no. But there is a difference between vulgarity and sensuality. We must be mature enough to appreciate the difference”

    Music videos like ‘Kaanta Laga’, ‘Chadti Javani’ and most of the new remixes that are floating all over the channels have vulgar steps, half clad women and suggestive lyrics. Should there be a censor on this?

    There needs to be a regulatory policy with every record label. Record labels are the ones who make these videos. We are merely a channel which plays them. We of course at our end have the S&P department that I spoke about and we also have a team at music programming that whets every video before it goes on air.

    In fact, we at Channel [V] even edit suggestive parts out of the video. To give an example, we have been known to be very very difficult. The record industry knows that. And it’s not only with vulgarity but also things like smoking, alcohol and violence is edited by us out of the videos. So even the videos which have played, the so-called controversial videos have been edited by us before airing.

    What according to you is taboo in television programming?

    That’s a good question and a tough one too! I think it depends on the genre of each channel. Extreme violence, vulgarity are definitely a no no. But then again, there is a difference between vulgarity and sensuality. So we must be mature enough to appreciate the difference.

    What is your opinion on Anupam Kher being appointed as the new censor board chief?

    Mr Kher is a fantastic professional and I really respect him. I’m sure he’ll do a good job. He’s been on both sides of the camera and both sides of the fence. He has the right sensibility.

    Kher has said in recent interviews that he wants to censor television and that it is embarrassing to watch the recent music videos on television with family members and it has adverse effects on children. What are your comments on this?

    I appreciate this point. There have been a couple of videos that have pushed the limit. It is interesting to note that some of these controversial videos came with a ‘U’ certificate from the censor board itself. We, at Channel [V], put even those videos through our S&P department and they were edited before they were put on air. We did not air the controversial ones which did not come with a ‘U’ certificate. Star has a very strong S&P cell which only deals with content.

    Youth channels abroad have graduated from being merely music channels to including other genres – reality, adventure, experimental… which path will [V] take?

    All the genres that are mentioned have been pioneered by Channel [V] in India. Take for instance Popstars – reality, Panga – adventure, Crush – romance. All are revolutionary ideas which have been pioneered by us.

    The best suggestions that I have is that you keep watching us. We have lots in store.

    James Murdoch evinced keen interest in [V] during its initial days. Does he take as much interest even now?

    Very much so. James is very closely associated with whatever we do. He does evince a very keen interest in the channel. It’s a pleasure to have him around. He’s been associated with his own record label and so he’s got a great perspective to give us.

    [V] in terms of advertising has been perceived as riding piggyback on more successful siblings like Star Plus. What is the situation today – how much advertising does [V] manage to attract on its own?

    Channel [V] is a very strong brand by itself. Yes, the association with Star has strengthened that hand but the trust that advertisers have had in Channel [V] has always been there. We have a separate sales team that deals with only Channel [V]. In that manner, we do attract our own advertising.

    What are your plans? Will you graduate from a music channel back to advertising or move on to films? Where do you see yourself in the future?

    I love music television, so the chances of me going back to advertising or heading off and making a movie are very unlikely to say the least. I enjoy working with Star and music television and I think right now this is the best place for me to be.
  • Slimmer Viva to showcase third video next week

    Slimmer Viva to showcase third video next week

    MUMBAI: Viva is going full steam ahead, the loss of one member notwithstanding. The music channel from the Star stable Channel (V) has announced that it will air the third video of its girl band later this week.

    Their new video Jahan Ho Pyar Ka Mausam takes viewers on a musical journey with the Viva girls in search of a fantasy land, although sans Seema Ramchandani who quit the band recently. The video was shot in the lush green locales of Murud Janjeera, a seaside retreat in western Maharashtra, and amid the sun, sands and surf of the exotic beaches of Kashid, on the outskirts of Mumbai.

    An official release informs that the Viva girls have for company the Boys for VIVA – Sanju, Romeo, Parag, Gaurav and Nolen, the macho five-men team, who were selected among thousands who enthusiastically took part in the “Boys for VIVA contest’ for being a part of the third VIVA video. Shot in romantic locales, swinging to the music of music composers Jatin-Lalit, the video has a gossamer, poetic avante garde look and was shot in four days, the release claims.

    Shot by ace cinematographer Amit Roy and choreographed by Anand Kumar of Kaliyon Ka Chaman fame, the video is directed by Amar Deb, of Channel [V].

    The release states that Viva’s first album has already sold close to 500,000 copies. Their first public performance saw 50,000 spectators in attendance.