ITV

Tag: Bimal Unnikrishnan

  • Big Magic & Big FM launch integrated show ‘Fakebook with Kavita’

    Big Magic & Big FM launch integrated show ‘Fakebook with Kavita’

    MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network’s entertainment channel Big Magic and 92.7 Big FM will be launching an integrated satirical comedy show called Fakebook with Kavita with TV actress Kavita Kaushik.

     

    The show, which will be aired as a simulcast on television and radio for the first time in the industry, is a fresh take on the hypocritical Indian society, focusing on topical issues, which make you sit up, think and introspect, albeit with a pinch of humour.

     

    Starting from 19 October Fakebook with Kavita will be aired at 9 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays on Big  Magic and from Mondays to Thursdays on 92.7 Big FM.

     

    In line with the programming strategy, the content will be sarcastic, irreverent, relatable and cutting edge. Kaushik will be seen doing sketches where her character will vary depending on situations.

     

    Big Magic creative director Bimal Unnikrishnan said, “We are introducing a genre – satirical comedy, which has not been explored much on the small screen. Fakebook with Kavita is a light hearted, relatable, satirical comedy series with a fresh take on the hypocritical Indian society. We are excited to launch our first integrated show, which will enthrall viewers of Big Magic as well as the listeners of 92.7 Big FM, thus enhancing the reach of the show across India. It is our consistent endeavour to create shows with cutting edge content coupled with ‘full on LOL’ moments and we do hope that the audiences will love this.”

     

    Kaushik added, “I am glad to be associated with this unique show. It is a take on our hypocritical society but with a dose of comedy. Audiences will see me discussing real life issues and topical situations with lots of humour. Looking at the scenario today, I genuinely believe that a show of this nature is much needed and it is the perfect time to launch it. The best part is that the reach of the show will be manifold as it will air on both Big Magic and 92.7 Big FM.”

  • Reliance Broadcast Network strengthens team with four key hires

    Reliance Broadcast Network strengthens team with four key hires

    MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) has strengthend its team with four new hires.

     

    Manoj Lalwani has been named RBNL network chief marketing officer, whereas Renuka Iyer has joined as network sales & distribution head for RBNL.

     

    Additionally, Amita Srivastava has come on board as national head – account planning for RBNL, whereas Bimal Unnikrishnan has been roped in as creative director for Big Magic.

     

    Lalwani will spearhead the overall marketing function of the network including television and radio, while Iyer will be responsible for Network sales & distribution. Both will report to Reliance Broadcast Network Limited chief operating officer Ashwin Padmanabhan.    

     

    Strengthening the programming team, Unnikrishnan will oversee content creation for Big Magic. Srivastava in her new role will be responsible for account planning for the network.

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited CEO Tarun Katial said, “We are happy to have Renuka, Amita, Manoj and Bimal on board who bring with them a wealth of experience and immense knowledge in their respective domains. Together, we aim to create differentiated and unique offerings for our discerning audience. I am sure that the team will add to existing talent pool and will successfully drive the growth story of the group.”

     

    Lalwani was with VLCC Health Care as vice president – sales and marketing for South Asia,  prior to this.

     

    Spearheading the sales function in leadership positions across digital and traditional platforms for close to 15+ years,  Iyer has been associated with brands such as Zee News, Digital Radio Broadcasting Limited and Homeland Networks (USA). She worked with Zee News for 10 years where she was senior vice president (sales) and with Digital Radio Broadcasting Limited as national sales head before moving to Reliance Broadcast Network Limited.

     

    Unnikrishnan has been an integral part of the television industry with over 20 years of experience. He was senior creative director and a key member of the Dance India Dance franchise. Prior to joining Reliance Broadcast Network Limited, he worked with Big Productions as head of non-fiction. He has also had stints with UTV as senior creative director as well as with Miditech.

     

    With an experience of over 17 years in strategic media planning, Srivastava has managed communication solutions for brands across segments, from cosmetics and auto to finance and hospitality amongst others. Prior to joining RBNL, Srivastava was ZenithOptimedia vice president and was heading the Mumbai branch.

  • Another TV executive bites the TV producer bullet

    Another TV executive bites the TV producer bullet

    MUMBAI: With the general entertainment genre getting hyper-competitive, the demand for out of the box content is exploding. And nobody understands the needs of a channel’s creative and executive producers than somebody who has worked there before.

     

    Hence, it is no surprise that executives from channels are leaving their relatively comfortable jobs to turn entrepreneurs or partnering with producers as creative producers. Saurabh Tewari (Nautanki Films, Colors), Ranjeet Thakur, Hemant Ruparel (Frames, formerly with Zee TV), Bimal Unnikrishnan (India Dancing Superstar), Siddhartha Tewari and Vikas Seth (formerly with Sony). The latest to do so is Vaibhav Modi, formerly with Endemol and later Star Plus as non-fiction programming head.

     

    He put in his papers in September 2012, and set up his own production house calling it Bolt Media. His initiative is being funded by Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms and hence it is being talked about as its subsidiary. Modi has taken along with him an old Star hand Rajkamal Patra as commercial head and has hired a team of creatives, production professionals and writers on a project basis.

     

    The production house has already wrapped up eight ad films for Kissan which were aired in March 2013 and featured Punar Vivah’s Kratika Sengar. Now it is working on two fiction shows one of which is in the mythological genre and the other in the historical documentary drama space

     

    Modi is loath to reveal any further details on the shows. All he was willing to say was that “Bolt Media was incorporated to independently create and produce cutting edge TV concepts across mainstream and regional television. We will be covering genres like youth, humour, neomythology, reality, scripted reality, factual entertainment besides exploring branded content like digital brand solutions and short form programming. We are also looking at creating intellectual property like TV formats, events and digital content. “

     

    Going by how other TV-broadcast-executives-turned-entrepreneurs have fared in the past, expect Modi to notch up success.