ITV

Tag: Bihar

  • Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand now available on Airtel Digital TV

    Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand now available on Airtel Digital TV

    MUMBAI: As part of its distribution-strengthening strategy, BIG MAGIC Bihar & Jharkhand the regional entertainment channel from the Reliance Broadcast Network stable, inks distribution deal with Airtel Digital TV becoming available on Channel No.628. Airtel Digital TV subscribers will now add to BIG MAGIC Bihar & Jharkhand’s massive reach as it spreads out to a larger diaspora across India.

     

    Backed with an aggressive distribution plan and an endeavor to reach its rich regionally rooted content, to discerning audiences across the country, the channel’s availability on the massive DTH platform – Airtel Digital TV is a step in this direction. With an eclectic content mix that encompasses a wide slate ranging fiction, crime, reality, music, devotion, movies and mythology, tailored to offer a wholesome family viewing experience, the Channel is primed to get a huge loyal audience base instantly. Viewers can now savour television shows coated with the regional flavor ranging Police Files, Hindustan ka BIG Star, Bhojpuri Films, BIG Memsaab, BIG Bahuria and upcoming reality show BIG Folk Star.

     

    Commenting on the development, Reliance Broadcast Television Business COO Lavneesh Gupta said, “We are a leading player in the regional market and have delivered excellent performance. We see a huge opportunity in catering to a larger diaspora by partnering with Airtel Digital TV and our endeavor is to reach our content mix to the discerning audiences spread across the length and breadth of India. We are proud to partner with them as yet another step in this direction.”

     

    BIG Magic Bihar and Jharkhand is currently available on Dish TV, Hathway, Incable, Manthan, Digicable, GTPL, Siti Cable, Maurya, DEN and other all independent operators.

                                  

           

  • Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand presents new reality show Big Bahuria

    Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand presents new reality show Big Bahuria

    MUMBAI: This June, the leading entertainment channel of the region BIG MAGIC Bihar & Jharkhand presents a unique reality show for its viewers. Combing through a number of locations in Bihar & Jharkhand, the channel unveils the true nitty-gritties of the relationship between a bahu and her sasuraal through BIG Bahuria. Hosted by the talented Priyesh Sinha, BIG Bahuria brings forth the hopes, aspirations and the reality of married women from the region starting 16th June, every Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm!

     

    Moving beyond the rosy or the hostile relationships between the saas and the bahu (or bahuria) as depicted in television shows today, the show aims to reach deep into the culture of the region and expose the real brickbats and bouquets that every relationship around a woman brings to her life. The saas is also the bahuria of the house who has lived her life for the family and probably even suppressed her own hopes and aspirations in the process. The show has been formatted for the viewer to understand the family and the relationships of the married woman in focus while also being a facilitator for the family to understand and empathize with the senior bahuria (saas) and the newer bahuria of the house. While focusing on the positives of the family, it will also throw light on the bahuria’s dreams & ambitions as an individual, her expectations from her husband and family, her conflicts between being ideal v/s being real etc.

     

    While the show touches upon any conflicts or tension in her relationships with everyone around her, it also presents the lighter side to her life – there will be games and other spot contests through which the family and neighbors display their knowledge, their rapport and their love for her. The show will be hosted by well known stand-up comedian and anchor, Priyesh Sinha who will visit these cities and interview the bahurias and their families in question.

     

    The Format:

     

    1. The host visits the town / location in question and interviews people so that viewers understand the background of the bahuria’s family

     

    2. The bahuria is interviewed on her life after her wedding, her relationship with her husband’s family and the family’s view of her. This segment seeks to highlight and resolve relationship conflicts if any

     

    3. The entire family is engaged in games and quick contests – the bahuria’s knowledge of family likes and dislikes, neighborhood etc. is conducted.

     

    Commenting on the launch of the show, Lavneesh Gupta, COO, Television Business, Reliance Broadcast said, “Marriage is a huge milestone in a woman’s life when she starts living her life for other people. Through this show we are bringing the issues of a married woman’s life out in the open so that we can address them in a positive way along with her own family and build a positive future. We are confident that this show will resonate very well with our audiences while being a great value proposition for advertisers in the region. “

     

    The show will be supported by BIG MAGIC Bihar and Jharkhand’s marketing muscle and will be promoted through radio, on-ground and digital media.

  • Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand inks DTH deal with Dish TV

    Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand inks DTH deal with Dish TV

    MUMBAI: As part of its distribution-strengthening strategy, BIG MAGIC Bihar & Jharkhand the regional entertainment channel from the Reliance Broadcast Network stable, inks distribution deal with Dish TV becoming available on Channel No. 814. Available on the base pack, this move adds 8mn million Dish TV subscribers to BIG MAGIC Bihar & Jharkhand’s reach as it reaches out to a larger Diaspora across India.

     
    Backed with an aggressive distribution plan and an endeavor to reach its rich regionally rooted content, to discerning audiences across the country, Dish TV – India’s premier and largest DTH platform was the most natural choice. This deal marks the beginning of a robust expansion plan as the Channel is close to inking deals with other leading DTH players, in addition to an extremely robust local distribution network already in place.

     
    With an eclectic content mix that encompasses a wide slate ranging fiction, crime, reality, music, devotion, movies and mythology, tailored to offer a wholesome family viewing experience, the Channel is primed to get a huge loyal audience base instantly. Viewers can now savour television shows coated with the regional flavor ranging Police Files, Hindustan ka Big Star, Bhojpuri Films, Big Memsaab and upcoming reality shows Big Folk Star and Big Bahuria.

     
    The Channel said in a statement, “We are a leading player in the regional market and have delivered excellent performance. We see a huge opportunity in catering to a larger Diaspora and our endeavor is to reach our content mix to the discerning audiences spread across the length and breadth of India. Dish TV is a perfect partner to begin the exercise with, from here-on we will increase footprint through strengthened distribution across platforms.”

     
    BIG Magic Bihar and Jharkhand is currently available on Hathway, Incable, Manthan, Digicable, GTPL, Siti Cable, Maurya, DEN and other all independent operators.

     

  • The Election Tracker & Agar Abhi Chunav Ho Toh

    The Election Tracker & Agar Abhi Chunav Ho Toh

    MUMBAI: As a prelude to the upcoming General Elections, CNN-IBN & IBN7 in partnership with THE WEEK are again back with the last round of The Election Tracker.’

     
    CNN-IBN & IBN7 began this massive effort with its first round of The Election Tracker in July 2013, which was a one-of-its-kind study that tested the mood of the nation on key governance issues and attempted to track the fortunes of key political leaders; eventually endeavoring to answer the BIGGEST QUESTION – Who will rule India for the next five years?

     
    The upcoming round of The Election Tracker on CNN-IBN and Agar Abhi Chunav Hon Toh on IBN7 scheduled from 31st March to 4th April, 2014 will see participation of approximately 18,050 respondents to be surveyed across 22 states with focus on social and political issues of national importance. Based on a rigorous methodology, this study, conducted by the ‘Centre for the Study of Developing Societies’ (CSDS) will project likely voting patterns and outcome.

     
    The states to be covered will be: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.

     
    Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN Network, said, “As we approach one of the most complex and debatably the most fascinating and exciting elections so far, we believe that our viewers need to be  well armed with extensive and accurate information related to our present political and social scenario. This is crucial in order to enable them to make informed decisions while voting which will help take our country forward in the right direction. Through ‘The Election Tracker’ and ‘Agar Abhi Chunav Ho Toh’ on CNN-IBN and IBN7 respectively, our network aims to do precisely this.”

     
    Philip Mathew, Managing Editor, THE WEEK, said, “THE WEEK is known for its incisive political reporting and exhaustive analytical articles. The election prediction polls we have been associated with over the years have always been credible and accurate. As we prepare to elect a new government, THE WEEK is happy to be part of an effort to gauge the mood of the electorate, and predict which way the wind blows.”

     
    Don’t miss The Election Tracker on CNN-IBN and Agar Abhi Chunav Hon Toh on IBN7 from 31st March to 4th April, 2014 @ 8:00 PM.
    You can also read the detailed results and analysis of the survey in the issue of THE WEEK hitting stands on 4th April 2014.

     

  • Maxus and Tata Global Beverages release of 10 point Women’s Manifesto

    Maxus and Tata Global Beverages release of 10 point Women’s Manifesto

    MUMBAI: Ahead of the 2014 General Elections,Tata Global Beverages and the Tata group today released a 10-point ‘Voice of 49%’ women’s manifesto,aggregating issues raised by more than a million women from across India. The manifesto, an outcome of the ‘Power of 49’ campaign, aims at giving a voice to the women of India to be heard in the political discourse of our country. The key issues that have emerged in the manifesto are broadly around the themes of Violence, Safety, Health and Education. This entire campaign has been powered by Maxus, the country’s leading media investments firm, and most dominant media agency in India.

     

    The Power of 49 campaign was launched by Tata Global Beverages, through their social awakening platform Jaago Re, and the Tata group in August 2013 with the objective of creating a more awakened and informed female electorate who constitute 49% of the world’s largest democracy.The issues thathave emerged as a result of this campaign were studied and debated in depth by14 experts led by the editorial team of CNN-IBN and have put together this 10-point ‘Voice of 49%’ manifesto, to be presented and discussed with political parties, in an attempt for them to integrate it into their political agenda.

     

    Speaking on the campaign, Kartik Sharma, MD, Maxus South Asia said, “The Bahu Nahi Bahumat” campaign is the articulation of “Power of 49” campaign by Tata Tea and Tata Global Beverages. This is a revolution rather than a communications campaign. Along with the brand, we have managed to bring core issues that affect nearly half of the electoral votes in India to the forefront. With innovative content and a robust media outreach, we have made the Women’s Manifesto a topic of conversation that could show real measureable impact in the forthcoming elections.” He added, “It has been a great opportunity for the team at Maxus to work on such an important manifesto, taking the Tata Group’s social awaking vision forward.”

     

    Speaking at this milestone, Vikram Grover, Vice President, Marketing, India and South Asia, Tata Global Beverages said, “The objective of the campaign was to create a large number of educated women voters with a view that an informed female electorate would propel the political leaders to include their issues in the agenda in the forthcoming elections. Our study indicates that women are beginning to understand the role they play in forming a government and are more inclined towards voting now.   We are delighted by the overwhelming 1.4 million responses received through our Power of 49 initiative where women have expressed their specific issues.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukund Rajan, Member – Group Executive Council and Brand Custodian, Tata Sons said, “The Tata group is proud to associate with Power of 49, which aims to create awareness among the women voters of India about the power they have to bring about change. The ‘Voice of 49%’ manifesto represents an opportunity for Indian women to cast informed votes for candidates who address their issues and at the same time gets political parties to see women as a determining factor in elections. We believe that women’s empowerment is an important subject for our nation’s progress, and the Power of 49 initiative is a step in that direction, seeking to give women their rightful place in the future of our country.”

     

    Since the launch of the campaign, more than 1.4 million responses have come from all over the country through multiple communication platforms. The highest participation has come from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar, respectively.

     

    Key highlights of the Voice of 49 manifesto

     

    • Politicians must lead by example by displaying zero tolerance for perpetrators of domestic abuse and dowry in political parties

     

    • Address the under representation of women in the parliament through increased representation in party ticket distribution as well as cabinet

     

    • Make gender sensitization for boys a compulsory part of the school curriculum from Std. V to XII in order to counter eve-teasing

     

    • Increase percentage of women police personnel from current 5% to at least 33%

     

    • Build a combined ‘front line army’ of government workers, NGOs, local health and sanitation workers with accredited social health activists

     

    • Build 1 crore women toilets within a year with privacy and 24/7 access to water

     

    • Provide mandatory cr?ches, women-friendly maternity policies that include long-term leave-  both rural and urban

     

    • Incentivise schooling for girls by providing financial saving schemes and free transportation

     

    • Install GPS on all buses, double the number of street lights and provide round the clock public transportation for women

     

    • Provide complete medical, legal and psychological support to victims of domestic violence by instituting special family counselling centers in government buildings and policy centres

     

    These issues were collated in a first-of–its-kind manifesto that represents the collective voice of the AamAurat. Our triumph lies in Tata Tea Jaago Re becoming a platform for national discourse for issues like the importance of voting and the ills of corruption. With the Power of 49, we have reached another milestone with respect to women and their role in the forthcoming elections and the future of our democracy,” he added.

     

    Power of 49 is being supported by the Tata group as it aligns closely with the group’s social agenda. The campaign saw Tata group companies and employees coming together in the spirit of volunteering to play their part in amplifying the impact of the campaign.

     

    The Power of 49 campaign comprises of three phases.

     

    • The first phase was focused on creating awareness amongst women to the Power of 49% and the power of their informed vote.

     

    • The second and the current phase is about encouraging women to voice out their issues that are critical to them, their family and locality through forging partnerships and communicating it through multiple platforms. With the impactful ‘KaalaTeeka’ television commercial, the ‘Push the Pin’ initiative and the endorsement of leading television soap protagonists through the BahuNahiBahumat platform, the initiative has encouraged women from across the country to raise their voice. Tata Global Beverages partnered with General Entertainment Channels (GECs), news channels, and an NGO to broaden its reach and create maximum impact resulting in the creation of the ‘Voice of 49%’ manifesto.

     

    • Through the creation of manifesto, the final phase of the campaign urges women to go and cast an informed vote for a candidate who is most likely to address their issues ahead of General Elections 2014.

     

    The ‘Voice of 49’ manifesto, voicing theissues and concerns of women from across India, if implemented by the political parties, could have a large positive impact on the country.The Power of 49 campaign will continue to leverage multiple communication platforms to create awareness amongst women to cast an informed vote for a candidate who will address their issues.

  • Celebrate holi with big phaguwa on Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand

    Celebrate holi with big phaguwa on Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand

    MUMBAI: Bringing fun and frolic to the viewer’s home, the region’s No.1 entertainment channel, BIG Magic Bihar & Jharkhand presents a first-of-its-kind 7-day long Holi celebration with BIG Phaguwa 2014. With a platter of all-round entertainment inclusive of folk music, performances, special capsules, blockbuster movies, a televised Holi event and much much more, the region’s favourite channel grooves its viewers into a merry festive mood starting the 10th of March to the 17th of March 2014!

     

    Promising fun-filled and entertaining 7 days, the channel presents a unique bouquet of offerings! From 10th to 17th March, the channel airs ‘Phaguwa Sara Ra Ra’ a special televised event covering Holi trends, new colors in the market, dressing, food etc. Another special package called ‘Holi Rangoli’ will air have special Holi songs from different regions for viewers to enjoy. For movie lovers, the channel will air 9 blockbuster Bhojpuri movies starting 10th March inclusive of the World TV Premieres of Dil Toh Paagal Hola at 3pm on 15th March and Laxman Rekha at 1pm on 16th March. Additionally, the channel’s shows BIG TOP 20 and Police Files II will have special Holi episodes this week.

     

    On 17th March (Holi), viewers can catch Holi ki Hud Dang – a special entertainment event featuring famous musicians and entertainers from the region. Viewers can enjoy folk singing, dance performances, celebrations, Jogira singing, music, celebrities and a lot more in this special show! With a host of special programs and marketing-digital promotion around them, the channel ensures that viewers stay glued to BIG MAGIC Bihar and Jharkhand this festive season!

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited is a media and entertainment company with interests in radio, television and television production. The Company houses: 92.7 Big FM – India’s No.1 FM Network with 45 stations, reaching over 4 crore Indians each week; Big Magic – a Hindi general entertainment channel featuring light entertainment shows; Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand – a Channel with local content tailored for the region; Big Magic International – a channel targeted at the Indian Diaspora in the US and Canada; Big RTL Thrill – an action entertainment channel from the Company’s joint venture with Europe’s RTL Group; and Big Productions – its television content production division; For more information log on to www.reliancebroadcast.com

  • NDTV India piggybacks legacy to outdo competition

    NDTV India piggybacks legacy to outdo competition

    MUMBAI: Political parties and their prime ministerial picks aren’t the only protagonists of the unfolding election drama; news channels of all hues have joined the fray.

    However, when it comes to election coverage and analysis, certain channels seem to have an edge simply because they’ve been there, done that, long before the others.

    Undoubtedly, New Delhi Television or NDTV is one such, with veteran journalists – Prannoy Roy and Vinod Dua – having co-anchored the first-ever election programme on Doordarshan back in the eighties.

    Leveraging this legacy even as it enters the heat and grime of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls is NDTV’s Hindi news channel, NDTV India.

    The channel has re-jigged its entire schedule to exclusively focus on the battle for the prime ministerial position. From 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, viewers will be treated to Badi Khabar with Nidhi Kulpati followed by a new show titled National Highway 2014 at 7:00 pm that will feature ground reports from key constituencies and will be anchored by Manoranjan Bharati.

    Newspoint with Abhigyan Prakash aired at 8:00 pm will become Newspoint: Target 272 till the election results are announced.

    Primetime at 9:00 pm will be the same with Ravish Kumar while Rann-neeti at 10:00 pm will have Sikta Deo tracking the changing political strategies of the key players. The last show, Mission 2014, will be aired 10:30 pm onward and will see Kadambini Sharma’s 360-degree coverage of the day’s top election stories.

    Bhuwan Bhatt

    “We will track personalities in the manner in which the US Presidential elections are covered. Our focus this time is to look at the strategies of individual parties and their key leaders. Our objective will be to track the path available to different political formations on their way to the magic 272 mark. This is also one of the most personality-driven elections in recent history,” explains NDTV India managing editor Aunindyo Chakravarty.

    More than the south, the channel will keep a watch out for the Hindi heartland while being in close contact with the Election Commission for real-time turnout figures across states. “While we will be covering the entire country, our focus will be on Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which could hold the key to these elections,” says Chakravarty.

    With the channel’s market share having risen by a significant 25 per cent in the last LS elections, NDTV India is betting big on its poll coverage and hopes to do even better. So much so, the channel has integrated its website khabar.com with its overall strategy. A special Hindi election microsite is on the cards and so are several interactive initiatives on social media.

    NDTV India is also in talks to use the services of nearly 200 stringers across the country to complement its existing network of correspondents.

    While correspondents will be posted at headquarters, stringers will handle election coverage at the district level. Of the stringers, some will be exclusive to NDTV India while others will be a shared resource between NDTV India and NDTV 24X7. To up its technology quotient, the channel plans to backpack live broadcasting equipment rather than hiring expensive OB vans.

    Isn’t Chakravarty concerned about advertisers, given that NDTV does not subscribe to TAM ratings? “We don’t need to know ratings. We have a better brand and credibility and we also earn better revenues,” dismisses Chakravarty. Hero MotorCorp is already on board as presenting sponsor while Kent-RO and Prateek group are the powered-by sponsors.

    To promote its new shows, the channel will conduct a campaign across Hindi speaking markets closer to elections, the creative for which will be done in-house. “India has a lot of new voters – nearly 12 crore. It is important to reach out to these people and let them know about our shows,” says NDTV senior VP for sales Bhuwan Bhatt.

  • GD Foods to expand its presence in the Eastern markets

    GD Foods to expand its presence in the Eastern markets

    KOLKATA: The fast-moving consumer goods (FMGC) company, GD Foods Manufacturing (India) that has two brands – Tops and Royal Taste – under it, plans to expand in the eastern region.

     

    In the present fiscal (2013-14), the company has earmarked four per cent of the turnover on the marketing spend that would include on-air and on-ground activities. However, in the next fiscal the spends would increase marginally, going up to five per cent.

     

    The company wants to expand its presence further in the eastern region by increasing the spends as well as by entering with the Royal Taste products beginning with Kolkata market in the next five-six months.

     

    The company has no plans to set up its manufacturing base in the eastern region but in order to capture the markets of Bihar, Odisha, Jaharkhand, it is looking at the best distribution possibilities.

     

    In the current fiscal, the company spent around Rs 8 crore on marketing and advertising initiative.

     

    Also, GD Foods which witnessed a turnover of Rs 153 crore in the last fiscal (2012-13), is confident to cross sales of Rs 200 crore in the current fiscal 2013-14. “Our turnover is likely to be higher than Rs 200 crore in FY14,” said GD Foods VP, Marketing Monika Solanki.

     

    Before foraying in the Kolkata market, the company is looking at hitting 360 degree marketing campaigns including outdoor media, regional television and newspapers papers. “Our own team is working on below-the-line activities that also include on-shop activities,” she added.

     

    The flagship company of the group – Tops – with key consumer products categories like jam, tomato ketchup, pickles, instant mixes, custard powder, culinary sauces, vermicelli, jelly among others has crossed 167 stock keeping units. “Tops pickles and culinary sauces are the main categories of products that largely drive GD Foods,” said Solanki.

     

    A media and brand expert from the eastern region says that because of Tops’ popularity, the company will have to be really innovative to make a mark with Royal Taste. “If the company is looking to enter the eastern region with ‘Royal Taste’, it has to do innovative campaigns to win over the existing national and regional players in Kolkata and eastern region,” said the expert.

  • Big Magic bihar & jharkhand launches police files season 2

    Big Magic bihar & jharkhand launches police files season 2

    MUMBAI: Encouraged by the grand success of season 1, BIG MAGIC Bihar and Jharkhand is all set to launch the second season of Police Files. Highlighting the various stories of crime, retaliation, presence of mind and bravery from the Hindi heartland, the show is hosted by Bhojpuri actor Vinay Anand. This new season hinges on the core principle ‘Surakshit Samaaj, Ek Abhiyaan’ that encourages people to be more socially responsible for those around them. The show launches on 3rd February, every Monday to Friday at 7.30pm and 10pm only on BIG MAGIC Bihar & Jharkhand!

    In its newest season, the show strives to evoke ‘Suraksha’ for everyone with the campaign ‘Surakshit Samaj Ek Abhiyaan’, and urges people to stand against crime and take preventive measures against them. Through the show, host Vinay Anand will narrate to viewers, various stories of impending crime, bravery and quick wittedness. The new season will be slotted in themes – Rakshak (the stories of super-cops going beyond their call of duty), Viruddh (the stories of senior citizens fighting crime), Naari Suraksha (highlighting the brave women of the region), Zameen (stories of fightbacks against Bhumafias), Rishton ki Raksha (stories of brave families) and stories of crimes against indigenous tribes / adivasis in Jharkhand.

    The company said in a statement, “Continuing to offer audiences in the Hindi heartland locally relevant and insightful programming, we are excited to launch season 2 of Police Files. Vinay Anand is a great host and we are confident that he will resonate very well with our viewers and that our advertisers will find great value in associating with the show.”

    Police Files is not just another crime show, but one that features real life stories from incidents that have taken place in the Hindi Heartland that are used to empower audiences to protect themselves from such crimes. The Hindi Heartland is known for its high crime rate ranging from crime against women, drug trafficking, extortion, murder for hire, homicide, kidnapping, theft, land mafia and more. This new show brings to life, real high profile cases through recreation and also goes a step further by empowering audiences to be better equipped to deal with these criminal situations.

    The new season will be promoted through an aggressive multi media campaign, featuring TV, Radio, OOH, Print, and Digital across the Hindi Heartland. The channel will also promote the show through various locally relevant on-ground campaigns and associations.

     

  • Network18 launches India’s local news portal www.News18.com

    Network18 launches India’s local news portal www.News18.com

    MUMBAI: News from India goes deeply local in the latest online news website from Network18: News18.com. India’s first web, mobile and tablet service to focus on news at the state and city level, News18.com was launched on January 26.  

    Available on the web, on mobile phones and tablets, and as downloadable apps for iOS and Android devices, News18.com currently covers seven states: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It will expand to the remaining states of the country over the next 18 months.

    News18.com draws on the unparallelled local news-­gathering expertise of the ETV network of news channels, whose Hindi services cover these seven states. The deep reach of ETV News into every corner of these states generates a rich and unique stream of news, updated by the minute.

    People can now follow all of these news reports, in the form of engaging video clips, instant updates, and snappy text stories, on News18.com. Local news will break fast – and first -­ on News18.com, and in-­depth coverage of local developments and issues will keep users fully informed about their home state and city.

    Highlighting the importance of local news, Lakshmi Narasimhan CEO, Web18 said, “News18 is a completely fresh approach to covering news online. With Internet penetration and smartphones users galloping in tier 2 & 3 towns, it is important to provide a convenient platform to consume news. This is the information century, with content consumption at an all time high. For somebody living in Bihar or Rajasthan it is no longer sufficient to simply know what is happening in Delhi. News18 brings you closer to your world and gets you news that truly matters to you.”

    Arunava Sinha, Head, IBNLive.com & News18.com is confident that readers will enjoy the interactive user-­experience of the site. “News18.com will give readers a totally fresh and unique content experience. Watching live TV on the mobile and on the dektop, keeping track of the latest developments through live tickers and smart app alerts, sharing the news of one’s choice with friends on Facebook and Twitter – users will be able to do it all.”

    By taking local news beyond its borders and making it available everywhere, News18.com turns the local into the national and international. And with its availability of computers, tablets and mobiles – the first online news offering from India to be available on all three devices from day one – it brings local news within easy reach of people wherever they are.

     
    The Network18 Group is a media and entertainment company with interests in television, Internet, films, e-­commerce, magazines, mobile content and allied businesses. Through its subsidiary ‘TV18 Broadcast Ltd.’ [BSE: 532800, NSE: TV18BRDCST], the group operates news channels -­ CNBC-­TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC-­TV18 Prime HD, CNN-­IBN, IBN7 and IBN-­Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group). TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels – Colors, Colors HD, MTV, Comedy Central, Vh1, Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr./Teen Nick and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the group’s filmed entertainment business.

    TV18 has also forayed into the Indian factual entertainment space through A+E Networks | TV18 (a joint venture between A+E Networks and TV18 Broadcast) and operates HistoryTV18. TV18 and Viacom18 have also formed a strategic joint venture called IndiaCast, a multi-­platform ‘content asset monetization’ entity that drives domestic and international channel distribution, placement services and content syndication for the bouquet of channels from TV18, Viacom18 and other broadcasters. Through ‘Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.’ [BSE: 532798, NSE: Network18], the group operates its digital, publishing and e-­commerce assets including moneycontrol.com, ibnlive.com, in.com and firstpost.com.

    ‘Network18’ also operates e-­commerce properties like HomeShop18 and bookmyshow.com and publishes Forbes India, the nation’s first local edition of a foreign news magazine title, in collaboration with Forbes Media. In addition, through ‘Network18’, the group operates Network18 Publishing, a player in the special interest publishing space. ‘Network18’ has investments in Yatra, Stargaze and other Capital18 portfolio companies.