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Tag: American Music Awards

  • Vh1 geared up for 43 Annual American Music Awards

    Vh1 geared up for 43 Annual American Music Awards

    MUMBAI: Vh1 is all set to showcase the best of international music at the much-awaited 43 Annual American Music Awards. The glamorous evening will air on 23 November 2015 at 9 pm.

     

    The 43 Annual American Music Awards 2015 will honour the hits from across genres. Nomination categories this year comprise of best pop/rock, country, rap/hip-hop, soul/r&b, alternative rock, adult contemporary, latin, contemporary inspirational, electronic dance music, as well as categories for top soundtrack, new artist of the year, artist of the year and singer of the year.

     

    “Keeping with the momentum of the international awards fever, we take pride in showcasing the American Music Awards once again. With the belief in showcasing only the best music & international lifestyle content for our viewers, we are delighted to present yet another grand edition of one of the biggest music nights in the world”, asserted Viacom18 EVP and Head English & Youth cluster Ferzad Palia.

     

    This year, heart-throb Taylor Swift leads the nominations race with six nominations, followed by Ed Sheeran and The Weekend with five nominations each. Last year’s lead Iggy Azalea as well as Sam Smith, Nicki Minaj and Meghan Trainor each have been nominated for three categories. 

     

    Viewers are in for a double treat as vivacious and glamorous Jennifer Lopez will set the stage of fire with her hosting and sizzling performance. Paying tribute to today’s most influential and iconic artists, the American Music Awards feature over 16 electrifying performances from today’s hottest artists such as 5 Seconds of Summer, Selena Gomez, One Direction and many more.

     

    The American Music Awards is part of an illustrious award show line up aired on Vh1 like The Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Video Music Awards and Europe Music Awards.

  • Vh1 turns 10; to focus on content acquisition

    Vh1 turns 10; to focus on content acquisition

    MUMBAI: English entertainment music channel, Vh1 has had quite an interesting journey. As it completes 10 years in India, the channel plans to focus its energies on content acquisition with renewed vigour.

    The channel’s roller-coaster bumpy ride began exactly a decade ago on 1 January, 2005, when MTV India and Zee-Turner teamed up to usher in this English channel.

    Likening himself to an old fossil, Viacom18 EVP and business head, English Entertainment, Ferzad Palia says, “There were around 175 competing channels when we launched. We had to differentiate our product from the rest and we had to simultaneously build the genre, so that the seeds of investment would start bearing fruit.”

    The channel started off fairly low key, with 40 English music videos in three cities, and had to re-popularize a variety of English music throughout the country. On the other hand, MTV changed its course and programming content to Hindi. Vh1, thus, catered to audiences, who had grown up and thrived on English music.

    Right from its launch, audiences often mistook the brand name for Vhr. Hence, it was tough going for the channel to captivate audiences initially. Multiple approaches ensued. The first one being print ads, wherein the name of the channel was literally spelt out below the logo for people to comprehend the brand well. Secondly, the channel began launching live events such as music festivals to create brand recall. Thirdly, radio and BTL promos along with constant verbalizing on the channel, helped differentiate the channel as well as its name. Finally, it captured youthful audiences in places like salons, had tie-ups with popular branded cafes, gyms and similar set-ups.

    This was followed by integrating the brand with its first on-ground event in 2005 called the Hip Hop Hustle where VH1 roped in Nokia as the presenting sponsor. The next move was to scale up on the content, wherein long format shows like Pimp My Ride, Buried Life and Fabulous Life were introduced. As part of its weekend programming for mature and older audiences, melodious Vh1 Classics were aired.

    The channel then aggressively decided to acquire prestigious award shows like the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Video Music Awards, and the Grammy’s amongst a host of others.

    Palia adds, “Currently we showcase one award show every month and through our ‘Vh1 Ticket To Ride’ contest, winners are sent abroad to actually witness the awards live.”

    The genres consumed the most on the channel are Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and soulful pop music. In 2014, VH1 bagged the rights to exclusively air two immensely popular talent shows – none other than Britain’s Got Talent and X-Factor.

    The two English-speaking metros namely Mumbai and Bengaluru, were the first two markets, which performed well for the channel. However, the channel caught the fancy of audiences in Delhi and the NCR region soon enough.

    In 2008, the presence of the channel had grown beyond the eight metros as cities like Pune and Ahmedabad surprisingly also started witnessing growth. Palia credits the DTH phenomenon at that time to have aided the growth in smaller markets.

    Talking about the opportunities offered by the channel for various brands, Palia said, “Instead of just a 10 second slot, we offer customization for various brands in categories such as jewellery, chewing gum, automobiles and FMCG through our on-ground events and shows.”

    Palia roughly places the ad revenue for the category at approximately Rs 175 crore, informing that the channel took eight long years to first break even, and only then did it see profits trickling in.

    “Currently, the channel has a very mixed viewership share of 20-22 per cent in the English music and entertainment category,” informs Palia. Age-wise, urban audiences in the age group of 15 – 24 contribute to 55 per cent of the audience share, while the age group of 25+ also devour and view the channel avidly.

    On social media, the Facebook page of Vh1 has approximately 31,18, 576 likes while its Twitter handle has as many as 234,000 followers. An in-house team closely follows and monitors the content on these platforms. The channel uses them to not only harness instant and real-time feedback, but also to create the necessary buzz ahead of aggressive launches.

    Vh1 has lined up a host of exciting activities as it celebrates its tenth year in India. As a part of this initiative, the top 100 videos of all time played over the last 10 years are being showcased. Secondly, the most played and popular videos on the channel of all time are being aired to cater to its audiences. Thirdly, it has decided to go down memory lane and telecast its first local show called Vh1 Music Diaries, which tracks the nostalgic journey of the channel.

    The celebrations commenced at the recently concluded Vh1 Supersonic Festival, which was held in Goa where almost 15,000 fans sang ‘Happy Birthday’ with gusto. This was followed by multiple anniversary bashes hosted on New Year’s Eve across six metros namely Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Various contests giving out prizes for winners are also a part of the celebration plans.

    Palia signs off saying, “Our aim is to keep evolving as we follow a similar aggressive, focussed strategy for content acquisition. In the years ahead, we will surely set innovative trends and let our audiences enjoy the best content.”

  • MTV, VH1 show-off their digital chops

    MTV, VH1 show-off their digital chops

    If you’re a television channel targeting the youth of today, there’s no way you can ignore the digital medium; be it social media or the Internet. Exactly the mantra that Viacom18’s youth entertainment channels – MTV and VH1 – hitherto positioned as general entertainment channels, are following. And we at indiantelevision.com found out just how much…

    Beginning with MTV India, it’s arguably the brand which focuses entirely on Indian youth in the age group of 15-34 years. Having started off as Music Television in 1996, the channel has lately shifted focus to reality shows with the triumvirate of MTV Roadies, MTV Unplugged and MTV Splitsville topping charts among MTV’s reality properties.

    Digitally speaking, MTV’s official facebook page boasts 5.5 million likes, with over 36 lakh fans talking about it at the same time. The channel has a presence across Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest and more than 95,000 followers at @MTVIndia on Twitter.

    Additionally, MTV India makes and promotes shows that trigger conversations on the Internet including MTV Webbed and Coke Studio as also shows which are exclusively for the web audience.

    MTV India’s official YouTube page scores more than 27 lakh subscribers with 4,019 videos including recent uploads of MTV Unplugged season three, Saturday Night Alright, Rann VJ Run, Bollywood Jasoos, MTV Webbed and so on.

    Over and above all this is MTV’s official website; the channel’s mainstay in the digital space with picture gallery, video uploads, trends and show trivia as well as snaps of hot properties like MTV Webbed, its new series Saturday Night, and many more.

    Coming to VH1; launched nearly a decade after MTV in 2005, the 24×7 pay channel caters to youngsters in the age group of 13-35 years. VH1’s official facebook page boasts 2.5 million likes, with xyz fans talking about it simultaneously. Whereas, it has nearly 36,000 followers at @Vh1India on Twitter. Recently, the channel has initiated a new activity for its show called Vh1 Throwback Thursdays, where the twitterati can suggest old songs VH1 can then play on air.

    This year, VH1 has expanded its digital reach with the launch of Vh1 HUB, Vh1 Pulse and Vh1.in; destinations where the youth can set CRBTs, stream music for free on facebook, watch hours of programmed content and stay up to speed with the happenings in the music universe.

    VH1 India’s official YouTube page has only 1,004 subscribers, and telecasts promos of its properties such as Indian Musical Compass, Karbonn Smart and Big Hit Katy Perry to name a few.

    VH1’s official website tops its comprehensive digital presence with sections like music, entertainment, videos, events, culture and contests. A special tab showcases what is trending on VH1 as well as updates of upcoming events.

    On VH1’s cards is a rhythm-based mobile game; one of the first for any music channel in the country. To be made available on Apple and Android phones and tablets, the game features fresh, never heard before pieces of music that would play in the background and add power to it.
    MTV India head digital Ekalavya Bhattacharya
    VH1, Viacom18 Media VP and business head – digital media Rajneel Kumar

    There will be a contest too titled ‘Games of Tunes’, with participation from some of the most talented independent DJs and musicians in the country who’ve worked on original compositions in the electronic music genre

    So what lies behind the digital success of these channels?

    Says MTV India head digital Ekalavya Bhattacharya: “One of MTV India’s biggest achievements is being recognized as a channel which talks back and cares for the audience. You can’t talk or give feedback to your TV set but you can talk to us via our social networks. We not only listen in to compliments by fans, we pay closer attention to things that our audience hasn’t appreciated. We’ve often actually tailored our on-air content based on the online commentary.”

    About VH1, Viacom18 Media VP and business head – digital media Rajneel Kumar says: “It is a symbiotic relationship with our viewers, where we engage with them across content, artistes, events and everything which makes their life musical.”
    VH1 not only promotes British music, it airs American reality shows on pop stars from different countries. It screens music documentaries and concert specials, live telecasts and repeats of shows like the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards and MTV Music Awards.”

    Kumar calls it a two-way process. “Since we have had a long-term interaction with our audience on social media, we now know their pulse. We understand what kind of music and lifestyle content they like and how our innovations in content and technology can suit their palate.”

    Not surprisingly, the channel has ramped up its programming with on-air and on-ground initiatives like Global Music Xpress, Dance 101, Big Brother, Vh1 Playlist, Jazz Masters, Yo Momma and tickers.

    What purpose does the channels’ social media presence serve, really?

    Explains Bhattacharya: “MTV’s digital destination isn’t just a place where an MTV fan comes to consume repeats of on air content; it is a place where we echo their interests and serve them content that is tailored to their needs. The popularity of our digital assets has changed the way we serve and develop content, massively, as well as the perception of our audience. The success of our digital platform has ensured that digital is no longer just a marketing support but a considerable revenue generating function.”

    Says Kumar: “Vh1’s social media networks are an important element of the channel’s daily engagement with its core audience. In fact, the social networks are the primary touch point for all initiatives and interactions. The channel has done and will continue to create socially-driven content for its target audience.”

    Speaking of the people who handle both channels’ digital presence; the VH1 team is based out of Mumbai and has multi-faceted resources spanning editorial, technology, creative, graphics, product and marketing while MTV India too has a 20-strong team based out of Mumbai.

    Says Bhattacharya: “MTV does not believe in compartmentalizing everyone in specific roles, because there is so much to digital, and there is a lot of creativity and science involved. We have technology, marketing, content buckets and all are bound with the thread of creativity, with a strong focus on revenue.”

    What are the channels doing to draw greater traffic to the websites?

    Says Bhattacharya: “We are not only present and active on all social platforms, we also pioneer digital innovation. For example, we are the first brand in India to have a show on Vine (Pick Me Up) and the first brand to use Whatsapp and Pinterest, heavily, in campaigns like Nano Drive with MTV and Ceat and MTV Chase The Monsoon. By engaging our audience on multiple platforms, we ensure we are constantly top of mind which consequently increases consumption of not only digital content but consumption of our shows on television.”

    Kumar says: “Vh1 is constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to social media. We work very closely with social platforms at both the product level and engagement. The next wave of innovation on social will be around the television screen and social platforms seamlessly integrated. We also continuously innovate on our campaigns for brands that work with us to deliver very strong engagement and brand message delivery.”

    For Bhattacharya, there is no specific demographic the channel caters to. “As far as a brand is concerned, everyone is a fan and each of them has an opinion and preference. The content doesn’t choose its audience; the audience chooses the content. The idea is to cater to all types of viewers with differentiated content,” he says. The problem is one property does not appeal to everyone and you can’t get everyone to love everything. Also, a viewer who is very vocal about his dislike for a certain show may not be as vocal about his liking another show on the channel.

    What are the achievements in terms of social media?

    MTV has won multiple awards for social and digital campaigns at pretty much every event. One of the biggest was when Roadies won the title of the Most Social TV Show in the world, beating the likes of Supernatural, The Glee Project, Pretty Little Liars, WWE etc. “The amount of work we put in on Roadies, specifically, on digital, is of course worth a whole new story,” says Bhattacharya.

    While Kumar says: “Vh1 has been the first mover to mark its presence on most social media platforms and continues to grow. Maintaining such a dynamic community is no less than a challenge. It has the biggest network of international music lovers in India in the shortest span of time. Plus we have multiple big ticket contests, taking our fans to the biggest gigs all over the world, there has not been a single quiet day for Vh1 online.”

  • Star World to roll out array of new shows

    Star World to roll out array of new shows

    MUMBAI: Star World is ready to roll out a series of new shows, new specials and new seasons. From the dramatic series Desire: Table for Three to The Scholar, 2006 34th American Music Awards to the new seasons of My Wife and Kids, Greys Anatomy to Most Haunted, Malcolm in the Middle and Commander-in-Chief.

    Desire: Table for Three is a daily one-hour drama that spins a tale of ardour, betrayal, deceit and murder, exclusively on Star World. Premiering 6 November it chronicles the tragic destruction of a family and the erosion of the bonds of brotherhood when two brothers, on the run from the mafia, get caught in a complicated web of deception when they both fall for the same woman.

    The 2006 34th American Music Awards LIVE, featuring celebrity presenters, live performances will be telecasted live on 22 November on Star World. 20 awards will be given out representing the best of Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues, Rap/Hip Hop, Latin, Alternative, Adult Contemporary and Contemporary Inspirational music.

    There would be a return of some old favourites. Commander in Chief is a thrilling series about Mackenzie Allen who has a lot on her plate…three kids, an ambitious husband, and she is about to become the first female president of the United States. It will be aired every Tuesday night, starting 7 November on Star World.

    Starting 9 November The Scholar is an original, unscripted series that will give the winner a college education from a top-rated school of their choice. Filmed on location at the University of Southern California, its the first show ever to celebrate higher education as the ultimate american prize, asserts an official release.

    Also slated are the new seasons of the kooky family comedies My Wife and Kids, Malcolm in the Middle, the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and paranormal series Most Haunted, adds the release.