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Tag: Balaji Telefilms

  • Sony to end two prime time shows to pave way for ‘Pyaar Ko Ho Jane Do’

    Sony to end two prime time shows to pave way for ‘Pyaar Ko Ho Jane Do’

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television is making a couple of changes in its prime time programming to make way for the Mona Singh -Iqbal Khan starrer Pyaar Ko Ho Jane Do produced by Balaji Telefilms. 

     

    To accommodate the new one hour show, which will be aired in the 9 – 10 pm slot, the channel is pulling the plug on its one month old 9.30 pm show 2025 Jaane Kya Hoga Aage. Additionally, the 9 pm show Reporters will also be concluding with the last episode being aired on 19 October.

     

    Pyaar Ko Ho Jane Do will launch on 20 October and will be aired from Monday – Friday.

     

    While the last episode of the Rajeev Khandelwal and Kritika Kamra starrer Reporters, produced by Shristi Arya, will see the logical culmination of the show’s first season, Sony’s other show 2025 Jaane Kya Hoga Aage is being pulled off after a run of little more than a month. The futuristic comic show set in the year 2025, produced by Optimystix Entertainment, was launched on 31 August.

  • Balaji Telefilms targets OTT as core business in 5 years’ time

    Balaji Telefilms targets OTT as core business in 5 years’ time

    BENGALURU: Just a couple of days back at the Indian Digital Operators Summit (IDOS) 2015 organised by Indiantelevision.com and Media Partners Asia, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) principal advisor SK Gupta said that ‘the customer was king’ and suggested that players in the broadcast industry ecosystem look at over-the-top (OTT) platforms to cater to the consumers need.

     

    Taking a cue from the current ‘over the top’ mood in the Indian broadcast industry, Balaji Telefilms Ltd is planning to make digital B2C (business to consumer) as its core business in five years’ time. This strategy will be driven via its own content as well as curated content.

     

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, this business will be housed under Balaji’s subsidiary company ALT Digital, which was re-launched in Q2-2016 with renewed vigour.

     

    With a three-pronged growth strategy covering television, films and digital B2C, Balaji Telefilms is looking at becoming a diversified media company. The most important component of the company’s growth strategy is to diversify into new opportunities via digital B2C. Balaji’s plans are built around the emerging changes in the consumers’ viewing habits.

     

    Through ALT Digital, Balaji plans to offer original and curated premium content on its own Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) and advertising -Video on Demand (AVOD) platform across multiple genres and languages to garner a share of the online mobile and video market. The subscription driven platforms on ALT mobile app and other connected devices as well as the ALT website are slated for a Beta launch in Q3-2016 (quarter ending 31 December, 2016). Additionally, technical development, content production, promo launch and pre-launch marketing is also being targeted in the same quarter. The formal launch is being targeted for Q4-2016 (quarter ending 31 March, 2016).

     

    While Balaji has been a content company, it seldom has had the chance to interact directly with the consumers. Now with the digital foray, not only will it have an opportunity to connect with consumers but will also be the owner of the digital IP unlike in television content where the IP of the show belongs to the broadcaster.

     

    According to the company, a majority of content available online are either re-runs or DIY, which in turn leaves a big opportunity to offer original web-series for internet audience.

     

    The business model that Balaji has chalked out for digital is subscription based ‘freemium’ approach as the primary source of revenue. Revenue from advertising, licensing and sponsorship will be the secondary source of revenue.

     

    Targeting an urban and semi-urban audience group that comprises smartphone internet users active on YouTube and social media in the 19-34 age group, Balaji plans to use global ‘best of breed’ technology to ride on the imminent explosion of internet bandwidth in the country. Viewers will have streaming and offline viewing options, delivered over multiple screens. 

     

    The company’s strategy is to churn out original, edgy, never-seen-before content in India created especially for the OTT platform.

     

    Balaji Telefilms is in the process of putting together a skilled team. Additionally, a robust implementation plan is being executed to help realise the opportunity and meet its goals.

     

    Apart from its digital focus, Balaji Telefilms’ other two areas of focus are its existing businesses of television content and film production. On the television front, the company, which has had Hindi fiction as its mainstay until now, is planning to foray into regional and non-fiction content by making selective risk-reward plays. On the other hand, for films Balaji’s strategy is to scale moderately and become profitable.

  • Star Plus & Balaji’s new fiction show set in Jamshedpur to launch on 28 September

    Star Plus & Balaji’s new fiction show set in Jamshedpur to launch on 28 September

    MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms and Star Plus are all set to launch a new fiction show set in the steel city of Jamshedpur. The show called Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan will go on air from 28 September and will be telecast from Monday – Saturday at 8.30 pm.

     

    The love story builds on the fact that if it’s not mad, extra ordinary and passionate love, then it’s not love at all. Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan is the coming of an age story of three friends – Koyal, Raj and Madhavan, each different from the other yet connected by the bond of friendship.

     

    The show is set in Jamshedpur, exploring the colour and life style of a small town, where almost everyone works in the same steel industry and lives a simple, routine life. Jamshedpur and the steel factory culture will bring a unique colour to the show, as it explores the story of three families, one Bengali, one Punjabi and one South Indian, all related to each other through their place of work and profession.

     

    Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan stars Shritama Mukherjee as the protagonist playing the role of Koyal. She will be paired opposite two lead actors, Vibhav Roy and Gautam Gupta playing the role of Raj and Madhvan respectively.

  • M&E stocks take a beating as Sensex crashes 1600+ points; NDTV worst hit

    M&E stocks take a beating as Sensex crashes 1600+ points; NDTV worst hit

    MUMBAI: Triggered by global concerns over China’s falling economy and its impact on global markets, the benchmark BSE Sensex witnessed bloodbath on Monday, 24 August as it closed the day at 25,741.56, down 1,624.51 points (5.94 per cent). This is one of the biggest fall since 2009.

     

    Moreover, the Nifty was also down 490.95 points (5.92 per cent) to close at 7809.

     

    According to media reports, on the back of the market meltdown, investors lost more than Rs 7 lakh crore. The downfall not only left the major oil, goods and bank companies in the red but the Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) companies were also badly hit. 

     

    In the media sector, news company NDTV India was the worst hit as it fell 16.27 per cent to close the day at Rs 88.50. This was followed by TV Today, which witnessed a fall of 13.99 per cent to close the day’s trade at Rs 192.15. On the other hand, multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom at Rs 40.05 was down 13.78 per cent.

     

    Some of the other major M&E companies like Balaji Telefilms, direct to home (DTH) company Dish TV and Sun TV Network were not spared either. While Balaji Telefilms was down 12.31 per cent to close the day at Rs 72.65, Dish TV was down 11.85 per cent at Rs 96.35. The Maran owned Sun TV dipped 11.63 per cent to close at Rs 298.50.

     

    Eros International Media closed at Rs 441.95 after registering a 11.60 per cent decline. Even music companies were not left untouched from the stock market waves. Shemaroo Entertainment, Saregama and Tips recorded a fall of 10.74 per cent, 9.98 per cent and 9.53 per cent respectively.

     

    Other media companies including DQ Entertainment, Network18, B.A.G Films and Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL) were down by 9.38 per cent, 8.78 per cent, 8.59 per cent and 7.33 per cent respectively.

     

    The Dhoot family owned DTH company Videocon d2h was the sole company unaffected by the fall of the Sensex. The company’s stock was up by 0.33 per cent and closed at Rs 137. 75.

     

    Some of the companies, which were not as impacted as much were Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), which was down 6.11 per cent to end the day at Rs 359.65, Jagran Prakashan (down 5.20 per cent) and MSO Siti Cable (down 5 per cent). 

     

    HT Media bore a loss of 2.84 per cent, whereas the Orissa based MSO Ortel Communications was down 2.27 per cent to close the day’s trade at Rs 202.30. 

     

    Ascribing the market crash to global turbulence, finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the government along with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was watching the situation and hoped that things will stabilise once the transient impact is over.

  • Balaji Telefilms readies two shows for Colors Bengali & Star Jalsa

    Balaji Telefilms readies two shows for Colors Bengali & Star Jalsa

    MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms, which is eyeing expansion in the regional programming space, is all set to launch two new Bengali shows soon.

     

    While the first one will be a Bengali fiction daily for Colors Bengali, the second will be a non-fiction show for Star Jalsa.

     

    The Colors Bengali show will go on air from the first week of October this year, whereas the non-fiction show for Star Jalsa is slated to go on air in the first week of February 2016.

     

    It may be recalled that in 2014, Balaji Telefilms had entered into a partnership with the Kolkata based production house Chhayabani to form Chhayabani Balaji Entertainment in a move to strengthen its regional offering.

     

    Balaji Telefilms has also licensed the Box Cricket League (BCL) format for regional broadcasting to Zam Media from Punjab.

     

    Under the aegis of Ekta Kapoor, Balaji Telefilms has executed over 15,000 hours of television content in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali entertainment across genres. What’s more, keeping abreast with technological advancements, the company has now moved towards HD programming to enhance viewing experience. It has also produced a fitness DVD with Sunny Leone for Times Wellness.

     

  • Q1-2016: Balaji Telefilms’ net down 80% at Rs 2.08 crore; revenue down 45%

    Q1-2016: Balaji Telefilms’ net down 80% at Rs 2.08 crore; revenue down 45%

    MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL) reported lower consolidated profit after tax (PAT) (less than one-fifth) in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) at Rs 2.09 crore (2.8 per cent margin), which was down 80 per cent as compared to the Rs 10.56 crore (7.8 per cent margin) in Q1-2015 and less than one-fourth the PAT of Rs 9.54 crore (12.3 per cent margin) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    BTL reported 44.8 per cent drop in consolidated total income from operations (TIO) in Q1-2016 to Rs 74.64 crore as compared to the Rs 135.34 crore in Q1-2015. The company’s Q1-2016 TIO dropped 2.6 per cent as compared to the Rs 76.94 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Note:  (1)100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    (2) All numbers are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

     

    Television segment

     

    BTL’s television segment reported 57 per cent growth in revenue from operations at Rs 68.46 crore in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 43.50 crore in Q1-2015 and 15 per cent more than the Rs 59.51 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The segment reported a 62 per cent growth in PAT to Rs 4.51 crore as compared to the Rs 1.96 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. PAT in Q4-2015 was however more than double at Rs 9.61 crore. Consolidated EBIDTA in the current quarter was Rs 4.97 crore as compared to the Rs 14.71 crore in Q1-2015.

     

    The segment’s cost of production shot up by 54 per cent in the current quarter to Rs 55.21 crore as compared to the Rs 35.77 crore in Q1-2015 and was 23 per cent more than the Rs 44.91 crore in Q4-2015, though the company had shot more commissioned programming hours in Q4-2015 than in the current quarter.

     

    The company’s television segment reported revenue of Rs 52.76 crores from 240.5 hours of commissioned programs as compared to the Rs 42.57 crore for 208 commissioned hours in Q1-2015 and revenue of Rs 59.51 crore for 258 commissioned hours in Q4-2015. The number of commissioned hours does not include Nach Baliye. Revenue per hour for commissioned programs in Q1-2016 increased 7.4 per cent to Rs 21.94 lakh as compared to the Rs 20.42 lakh in Q1-2015, but was 4.9 per cent lower than the Rs 23.06 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    UPCOMING TELEVISION SHOWS

     

    BTL is gearing up to launch four new shows across four general entertainment channels (GECs) in 2015. The first show is a finite series of 130 episodes, which will be aired from Monday to Friday on Sony beginning second week of September. The second show is a daily fiction serial to be aired on Star Plus from Monday to Saturday from the second week of September. The newest GEC &TV from the Zee Entertainment Enterprises stable will air a new Balaji fiction daily from Monday to Friday by end September. On the other hand, Colors will air a finite show called Nagin comprising 26 episodes of one hour programming, which will be aired on Saturday and Sunday by end October this year.

     

    Additionally, the company is also in talks with GECs for various non-fiction ideas.

     

    UPCOMING MOVIES

     

    BTL has multiple films namely Grand Masti, XXX, Kya Kool Hai Hum 3 and Udta Punjab on the floor. These are either in the post production stage or are nearing completion. The company is looking at releasing these in Q3 or Q4 of the current financial year if schedules stand. Another biopic Azhar is expected to be released in Q1-2017, while shooting is also in progress for a superhero film Flying Jat.

  • Balaji Telefilms forays into original digital content with ALT

    Balaji Telefilms forays into original digital content with ALT

    MUMBAI: Television and film production company Balaji Telefilms has forayed into the original digital content business segment with the launch of ALT Digital Media Entertainment.

     

    This is move is reflective of the company’s strategic intent to extend its entertainment expertise to creating enjoyable, engaging content for digital audiences globally and monetise the incredible potential of original, premium, on-demand entertainment.

     

    ALT Digital Media will be looking at offering next generation of content which is original, edgy and contemporary. The company will create content for the entire connected ecosystem spanning mobiles, computers, tablets, smart TVs and game stations.

     

    Through this endeavour Balaji Telefilms will go beyond the current themes of television entertainment to set a new benchmark with younger, edgier and smarter contemporary content that merits a different medium. The move comes at a time when 75 per cent of Indian audiences accessing the internet are aged between 19 to 30 years and increasingly seek new entertainment.

     

    The company is assembling a team of professionals and is gearing up to launch in early 2016, presenting all-new original drama series across genres that will be co-created by some prominent names from the Indian entertainment industry. ALT Digital Media will initially develop content in Hindi and English and later in other regional languages, all of which will be available on subscription-based and premium ad-supported models to domestic and global Indian audiences.

     

    In addition to developing its own platform, ALT Digital Media is also in advanced discussions to seek synergistic associations and partnerships with leading technology and video distribution platforms.

     

    Original and exclusive content is the primary lever to attract digital subscribers, and this will be the key operating differentiator for ALT Digital Media, which is being supported by Big Data Analytics and will be led by ‘predictive data’ that draws on analytics driven insights for accurate content development, viewer monitoring and better customer segmentation.

     

    Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor said, “As one of India’s most pioneering media houses Balaji Telefilms has always focussed on content innovation. Our passion for entertainment continues to drive us to create exciting entertainment formats – spanning films, television and now for young digital audiences. Our foray into the digital space is aligned to our strategic intent to tap into the growing digital video phenomenon, where we bring our unique story telling strengths to create compelling content and deliver it directly to audiences who are always connected and seek quality, original entertainment in new formats.”

     

    Balaji Telefilms group CEO Sameer Nair added, “With greater use of handheld electronic devices, and growing, 3G, 4G & WI-fi penetration, a spectacular mobile video and e-commerce revolution is underway, dramatically changing consumers and consumption behaviour. For Balaji Telefilms, with its distinct strengths as an innovative entertainment powerhouse, it is the logical next step – to create the next generation of original, exciting fiction content. This foray enables Balaji to not only create and own content IP but to also build its own consumer base of audiences who seek original content and in the process, build a strong and valuable B2C brand. We are confident that ALT Digital Media will soon carve its own identity as a leading digital entertainment content creator and distributor in India for worldwide audiences.”

  • Balaji Telefilms’ promoters up stake to 47.29% post Star India’s exit

    Balaji Telefilms’ promoters up stake to 47.29% post Star India’s exit

    MUMBAI: After Star’s stake sale of 25.99 per cent in Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL), the company’s promoters Shobha and Ekta Kapoor have acquired 28,43,000 equity shares at Rs 63.60 per equity share. With this, the promoters have upped their stake in BTL from 42.93 per cent to 47.29 per cent.

     

    Prior to the acquisition, Shobha Kapoor held 14 per cent stake in BTL, which has now been upped to 15.31 per cent (99,82,462 equity shares) post the acquisition of shares from Star Middle East FZ-LLC.

     

    On the other hand, Ekta Kapoor’s shareholding in the company has increased to 23.87 per cent (1,55,62,704 equity shares) from the previous 20.81 per cent post the share acquisition.

     

    Balaji Telefilms group CEO Sameer Nair also acquired 416,000 equity shares, which takes his current holding in the company to 1.06 per cent (692,729 equity shares).

     

    Balaji Telefilms Limited managing director Shobha Kapoor said, “Balaji Telefilms has in place a very strong growth platform in both the television and motion pictures segments. We are very optimistic about our growth outlook that is being driven by a highly capable leadership team. This transaction is reflective of our confidence in the company and its growth story.”

     

    Nair added, “We have already embarked upon several exciting strategic initiatives, which we believe will translate into improved operating and financial performance. We are also very well poised to capitalise on the several opportunities opening up in the media industry.”

  • Star offloads 26% stake in Balaji Telefilms for Rs 108 crore; shares up 20%

    Star offloads 26% stake in Balaji Telefilms for Rs 108 crore; shares up 20%

    MUMBAI: The “Star” has finally moved out of the Balaji Telefilms household. Rupert Murdoch owned Star Group has offloaded its entire stake of 25.99 per cent in Balaji Telefilms through a block deal on the Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSEI).

     

    As of 30 June, 2015, Murdoch’s company Star Middle East FZ-LLC held 1,69,48,194 shares in the television and film production powerhouse helmed by Ekta Kapoor, which was equivalent to a 25.99 per cent stake. The deal was done at an average price Rs 63.60 per share, which values the transaction at approximately Rs 107.80 crore. The buyer of the shares remains hitherto unknown.

     

    Ekta Kapoor and her family comprising Shobha, Jeetendra and Tusshar Kapoor jointly hold 42.93 per cent stake in the company with a total of 2,79,92,938 shares to their name.

     

    Riding on the back of this news, Balaji Telefilms’ shares rallied on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Wednesday 5 August, 2015. The company’s shares were quoting at Rs 95.25, up by Rs 15.85, or 19.96 per cent on the BSE. The stock also hit its 52-week high and there were only buyers and no sellers after the Star Group’s exit block sale.

     

    Star India’s Hong Kong-based parent company Star Group Ltd, had bought a 21 per cent stake in Balaji in 2004 for Rs 123 crore through its Dubai-based affiliate Asian Broadcasting FZ-LLC (now known as Star Middle East FZ-LLC). The stake acquisition was then followed by an open offer, after which Star’s shareholding increased to 25.99 per cent.

     

    Pertinent to note here is that Star has been keen on divesting its stake in Balaji Telefilms since 2008 when relations between the once thick friends went sour over low ratings of Balaji’s shows on Star Plus in the wake of intense competition. Rumors were rife in 2008 and then subsequently every other year that Star was planning to sell its entire stake in Balaji.

     

    Throughout 2004, Balaji Telefilms’ shares were trading in the price range of Rs 92 – Rs 105 on the BSE. While the shares touched a high of approximately Rs 188 in early 2006, it was in late 2007 when the company was at its peak with share price of Rs 350+ per piece. In December 2007, Star’s 25.99 per cent stake was worth a whopping Rs 597 crore based on Balaji’s stock price of Rs 352.40 on the BSE.

     

    While Star has finally made the much-vied exit in 2015, it seems as if this deal brought about a negative return for the company as far as valuation is concerned in the face of the investment that was pumped into Balaji Telefilms by the media behemoth more than a decade ago. However, it must be kept in mind, that over the years Star also earned sizeable amount of dividends from the company. Additionally, Star also enjoyed the fruits of intangible benefits such as the exclusive content agreement with the production house for its TRP-raking soaps. That said, it’s simple math that the price tag of Rs 108 crore for 25.99 per cent stake in 2015, is less than Star’s buying price of Rs 123 crore for 21 per cent stake way back in 2004.

  • Zee TV wraps up ‘Jodha Akbar’ after two year run

    Zee TV wraps up ‘Jodha Akbar’ after two year run

    MUMBAI: Zee TV’s consistent slot leader TV series – Jodha Akbar is all set to bid adieu in August after a journey of two years.

     

    Produced by Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms, the show had Rajat Tokas and Paridhi Sharma in lead roles.

     

    Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi said, “Jodha Akbar is a marquee, brand-defining property that has propelled the channel to new heights. It is a tent-pole show that generated immense advertiser interest. Over the course of its glorious run, it connected very well with the audiences as it explored aspects of Jodha and Akbar’s relationship that not many were privy to. In its final leg now, it will generate tremendous audience traction as viewers are bound to tune into the grand culmination of this iconic love story.”

     

    Talking about her journey, Sharma, who played the role of Jodha said, “It’s been a very fulfilling journey to play Jodha. This show has made a household name and a well-recognized face. I am thankful to all our fans for showering us with immense love and adulation. I have loved every bit of this journey and I am going to sorely miss shooting for the show. No matter which part I play in future, I know for a fact I will always be remembered as Jodha.”

     

    Tokas added, “I have thoroughly enjoyed playing the part of Akbar. It wasn’t easy as I had to study a lot about that era, specially the personality traits of this iconic historical figure. I am grateful to all our fans for their love and support and making this show a stupendous success. Playing the role of Akbar, I have grown as an actor and I would like to thank the entire cast, crew and the channel for being a part of this enriching journey.”