ITV

Tag: Broadcasters

  • We’re conveying broadcasters’ concerns to the regulator: MIB Secy Apurva Chandra on NTO 2.0

    We’re conveying broadcasters’ concerns to the regulator: MIB Secy Apurva Chandra on NTO 2.0

    Mumbai: Despite the pandemic-induced slowdown, India’s media and entertainment industry can grow at least nine per cent every year to reach $70 billion by 2030, said ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) secretary Apurva Chandra.

    The top ministry official was discussing the evolution of India’s broadcasting industry at the Apos India Summit that began virtually on Tuesday.

    Highlighting how the $25 billion industry is being recognised as a significant generator of employment, Chandra said the sector’s role in growing the nation’s soft power through dissemination of content worldwide is laudable.  The phenomenon has especially been powered in a big way by the pandemic-induced OTT boom.

    “The massive proliferation and adoption of OTT platforms have led to Indian content being translated into several languages and released internationally, thus making it available anywhere in the world at the same time. As I understand from the likes of Amazon and Netflix, there are a lot of viewers of Indian content abroad, including in countries like Mexico, Brazil and Spain,” said Chandra.

    The burgeoning of online video has however been accompanied by growing piracy concerns. While there exists in India a robust and well-entrenched Copyright Act that is administered by the department for promotion of industry and internal trade, the MIB is in the drafting stages of a ‘Cinematograph Act’. “The new legislation which will have a specific anti-piracy provision has already been introduced in the parliament,” informed Chandra.  

    Additionally the ministry has also agreed to extend in-principle support to CII’s (Confederation of Indian Industry) proposal of formulating an industry body to tackle all forms of copyright violations.

    The MIB secretary also noted the recent developments pertaining to the implementation of the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0, and said the ministry is in touch with the broadcasters regarding the issue.

    “The New Tariff Order (NTO) 1.0 guidelines implemented a couple of years ago gave rise to some apprehensions among broadcasters, and these seem to have been further aggravated by NTO 2.0. Prior decision on the matter has been challenged in the Supreme Court. We are also in touch with the broadcasters regularly and are conveying their concerns to the regulator (Trai),” said Chandra, adding that the ministry can act as a bridge between industry stakeholders and regulators, particularly in the context of recent regulatory changes.

    Chandra added that he welcomes the idea of the ministry having a larger role to play in the regulation of the broadcasting industry. “The MIB has received a request for inducting a part-time member from the sector into Trai, and we are open to the suggestions/nominations in this regard,” he added.

    Sharing his perspective on the scope for a unified regulatory policy/body for the M&E industry, he said that given the complexities and diversity of the sector, there needs to be a much larger debate on whether all stakeholders can come under a common policy. “It is bound to have its own challenges and concerns,” he reckoned.

    Among other initiatives, a ‘Broadcaster Seva Portal’ will soon be launched to take all application and approval procedures online. Changes in uplinking and downlinking guidelines can also be expected in the next three-four months, he said.

  • MIB gives an extension to broadcasters on TV rating committee’s report

    MIB gives an extension to broadcasters on TV rating committee’s report

    Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has granted an extension on the deadline seeking comments from broadcasters on the report on ‘Guidelines for TV Rating Agencies in India’ till 30 November.

    Major broadcasting associations including the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), News Broadcasters Association (NBA), and News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) have received the report.

    The MIB had reached out to broadcasters earlier in the month seeking their comments by 17 November on the report. The report was submitted by a committee instituted by MIB on 4 November 2020 and led by Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Shashi Shekhar Vempati. The committee submitted its 39-page report in January.

    Govt committee seeks to set up a specialised regulator for media ratings in India

    The comprehensive report highlights 20 recommendations of the committee to restore faith in the integrity of the TV rating system in India. The committee was formed in response to the TRP scam that broke out in October last year where three TV channels were named by Mumbai Police for allegedly tampering with rating data.

    As reported previously by Indiantelevision.com, the recommendations made by the committee in their report were aimed towards strengthening corporate governance at Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) India which is the premier TV audience measurement company in the country. There were also recommendations pertaining to the technical aspects of the TV measurement system like the use of return-path data (RPD), instituting a regulatory mechanism for media rating agencies, adopting an open data ecosystem, and moving towards hybrid audience measurement.

    The four-member committee included IIT Kanpur professor of the statistics department of mathematics and statistics Dr Shalabh, C-DOT executive director Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay and Decision Sciences Centre for Public Policy professor Pulak Ghosh.

  • ShortsTV is now on Amazon Prime Video channels in India

    ShortsTV is now on Amazon Prime Video channels in India

    New Delhi: ShortsTV- 24×7 linear and OTT channel dedicated to short-form content has announced a partnership with Amazon to launch ShortsTV on Amazon Prime Video channels in India.

    ShortsTV is already broadcasted in India across major DTH platforms including Tata Sky, Airtel TV, Dish TV, and d2h, and earlier this year, it entered India’s OTT world through the Airtel Xstream App. Through Amazon Prime Video, the short form entertainment network will now extend its reach into the Indian heartland at a cost of Rs 299 for a year, it said on Tuesday.

    The collaboration is led by ShortsTV’s larger aim to expand its digital footprint in the country, and reach a new set of highly engaged viewers. Prime members will now be able to access the short film channel alongside a specially curated on-demand short film library of over 4,000 titles.

    ShortsTV chief executive Carter Pilcher said, “Short films are India’s cauldron of creative energy, with some of the world’s most surprising and interesting movies emerging in what can only be described as a post-Bollywood revolution.  We are thrilled to join with Amazon Prime Video to bring these ground-breaking films to audiences across the sub-continent on the Prime Video platform.  Our goal to bring the short film revolution to every hamlet in India is one step closer.”

    “From star-studded, internationally acclaimed films by The Academy Awards, Cannes, BAFTA, and others, to the movies produced by international, independent, and local Indian filmmakers, ShortsTV offers a complete binge-watching experience,” the company said in a statement. “In addition to a vast array of short films, the service also features various segments on local film festival coverage, film school vignettes, ‘making-of’ features, and interviews with directors, actors, and other leaders in the industry.”

    The service features multi-language short films across English, foreign language, and local Indian languages, including Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu.

    According to ShortsTV president- Asia Tarun Sawhney, the service will provide viewers with the flexibility to watch their favourite shorts anytime, anywhere. “Our strategy is to continue partnering with the top content aggregators in India and worldwide to present the largest selection of short films to our viewers,” he added.

    Head of Prime video channels Chaitanya Divan said the streaming platform is excited to bring even more selection to its Prime members in India with the launch of Prime Video Channels. “As consumers consume more content on the go and on their mobile phones, there has been increasing interest in short-form content in India, especially high-quality short films. We are happy to collaborate with ShortsTV and provide access to their deep library of short films from across the globe to Prime Members, with an add-on subscription. Consumers can select, subscribe and enjoy their favourite short-form content all within the Prime Video app and website,” he said.

  • Broadcasters exploiting NTO 2.0 provisions for a-la-carte pricing: Trai

    Broadcasters exploiting NTO 2.0 provisions for a-la-carte pricing: Trai

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Friday said that some broadcasters are exploiting the freedom given for al-a-carte pricing of TV channels and warned that it will keep a strict watch on the industry and not shy away from acting in the larger interest of consumers and the industry.

    With an increase in TV channel subscription rates impending, the Trai said in a statement that the new tariffs announced by leading broadcasters reflects their intention to raise the prices of driver and popular channels, according to a report by PTI.

    These driver channels include general entertainment channels (GECs) and sports channels. The regulator refrained from naming any broadcaster but alluded that some leading broadcasters had hiked channel tariffs arbitrarily.

    The regulator claimed that the prices that some of the broadcasters have announced for their channels are unsustainable, are not demand driven or market driven prices and are against the interest of the consumer.

    This price hike has been announced in the garb of complying with the NTO 2.0, which is not true and rather an attempt to defeat the purpose of NTO that has already benefited the consumer to a large extent, stated Trai.

    Trai further said, “A sustained and misleading campaign is being run to create an impression that the impending price increase is due to the new tariff regime (NTO) 2.0. It is being publicised that any/every consumer who opts for top GECs or sports channels will end up paying an extra amount of Rs 100,” according to the PTI report.

    The purpose of the amendments to regulations for broadcasting and cable services sector was to ensure that no service provider corners undue gains and profiteers at the expense of consumers, as per Trai. It pointed out, “the channel pricing has remained under the prescribed ceiling for 15 years since 2004.”

    Under the provisions of the new framework, broadcasters may freely fix the price of their television channels with certain conditions applicable for inclusion into a bouquet. The regulations state that a channel MRP greater than Rs 12 cannot be included into a bouquet. The framework should result in reduced bills for the consumers, said the regulator.

    The implementation of NTO 2.0 will lead to an era of transparent tariffs and usher in better channel content at the most competitive prices, stated Trai. The regulator said that it is conscious of the time required to implement necessary changes to be carried out to incorporate the considered choices of 150-160 million pay TV households.

  • SC posts the final hearing on NTO 2.0 to 30 November

    SC posts the final hearing on NTO 2.0 to 30 November

    New Delhi: The Supreme Court has posted the final hearing on a bunch of petitions filed against the Bombay HC order regarding the implementation of the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0 to 30 November. In the meantime, the court has also asked the Counsel of all parties to file their written submissions before 12 November.

    When the matter was last taken up for hearing on Friday, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi appearing on behalf of the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) put forward brief arguments based on the rejoinder filed previously by the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF). However, due to paucity of time, the arguments could not be concluded.

    The Indian Broadcasting Foundation, an umbrella organisation of private TV broadcasters and a couple of other private channels had moved the SC in July against the Bombay high court judgment which had upheld the constitutionality of the NTO 2.0. According to the broadcasters, the new tariff order “impinges” on the broadcasters’ fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution

    The NTO 2.0 passed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in January 2020 sought to cap the pay channel price at Rs 12 from the existing Rs 19. The move was vehemently opposed by the broadcasters, who challenged the order as “arbitrary and in violation of their fundamental right”, who moved the Bombay HC against its implementation.

    However, on 30 June, the Bombay HC had upheld the constitutional validity of NTO 2.0, but partly struck down the second provision of the twin conditions as “arbitrary”. As per the second provision, the a-la-carte rates of each pay channel (MRP), forming part of a bouquet, shall in no case exceed three times the average rate of a pay channel of the bouquet of which such pay channel is a part.

  • The Q’s client list has grown 6 times since its launch on DD Free Dish: CEO Simran Hoon

    The Q’s client list has grown 6 times since its launch on DD Free Dish: CEO Simran Hoon

    Mumbai: Since its launch in December 2017, growing the channel’s distribution has been a top priority for The Q. Realising the potential of small-town India for which television is still either the only or main source of entertainment, the media start-up hopped on to DD Free Dish in March-April and the numbers thereafter are a testimony to the plan’s success.

    Earlier this year, the Company issued a statement declaring that it has “reached its 2021 goal of distribution to 100 Million TV Households as a result of launching on both DD Free Dish and Dish TV in April. The Q India has gone live to 50 million additional TV homes in the month of April.”

    As regards GRPs – the vital metric used to project revenue growth – The Q recorded the highest-ever GRP of 53 in Barc Week 21 (June) in addition to an eight-week average of 46.23, indicating it’s heading into the big league of channels. Buoyed by the growth the ‘start-up’ is gradually expanding into a full-fledged network. It has also ventured into content production with the first TV original ‘Jurm Ka Chehra’ launching in September.  

    While the figures speak for themselves, Indiantelevision.com decided to decode the recent developments on the creative, business, and organisational front in a candid interaction with The Q CEO- Simran Hoon who joined the Company in April. With over two decades of experience in the industry having worked for leading brands including Viacom18, ZEEL, STAR, and SET, Hoon is responsible for driving The Q’s overall growth and vision. The marathoner and animal lover CEO charts the brand’s trajectory post coming on to DD Free Dish.

    Programming for a Changing Audience

    From VOD to DTH and now DD Free Dish, the path trodden by The Q has been quite unlike any other in the Hindi GEC space. Yet, says Hoon the “journey became more interesting April onwards, since launching on DD Free Dish.” Previously, the channel’s programming was targeted at an urban audience, but with the footprint expanding into the hinterland, the content evolved into a more massy and family-inclusive tone. “The moment we came on to DD Free Dish we had to address the big households in Tier 1 and 2 towns without antagonising the urban viewer who obviously has a lot in common with the smaller towns; the differentiation is more pronounced in the minds of the marketers.”

    The change has translated into a preponderance of shows such as ‘Yo-Yo Yogesh’ and ‘Baklol’ over the likes of ‘Tantra by Vikram Bhatt’ and ‘Living in Trends’ (LIT) in the content mix.

    Through all the experimenting with family-oriented shows and now with content production, the channel has been able to successfully uphold its brand ethos of ‘Zara Hat Ke’ and having a ‘social element’ in all its programming. While other players in the FTA space are running repeat content consisting mostly of family dramas that are over a year old, The Q has no plans of going the ‘saas-bahu way’ which according to Hoon is suited for an older audience. “Though finally family-inclusive, we have stuck to our core TG of 15 to 35-year-olds and the promise of offering them more fun, differentiated and easy kind of programming. Our content is carefully curated to suit all age groups,” she shares adding that comedy is a big genre on the channel now.

    Since its launch as an independent advertiser and influencer-marketing-supported Hindi youth entertainment channel, The Q has been redefining TV to mean ‘social’ by delivering digital programming to the medium. For the unorthodox FTA player, the description of ‘Connected TV’ entails not just a connection to the internet, but to the network of people as well. Going forward, even as the Company steps up original production, it will ensure a social connect for all its content. Sharing an example, Hoon reveals, “The casting for our upcoming crime show ‘Jurm Ka Chehra’ was done on ‘Chingari’ (the short video app). In the future, the audience will see a lot of stuff where we bring social to TV.”

    The Advertising Windfall

    Hoon shares that as a brand offering fresh (on TV) content, The Q has not faced the problem of discounted ad rates like other FTA players, and now, with the steady growth in viewership post launching on DD Free Dish, there has been an increase in advertiser onboarding, awareness and acceptance of the channel.

    From around five clients in the first quarter of CY 2021, the numbers have grown six times to include 30 advertisers in the current list. “The mainstay of the FTA channels is FMCG, but we have a lot more e-commerce, pharma, and digital payment companies coming in, even as our client list continues to grow further,” shares Hoon.

    In order to service the increasing demand, the Company hired Ashish Kotekar as head of ad sales for South & West regions in May, and Pankaj Rai for North & East in August. The channel also has plans to go regional, but for now, the focus will be on the HSM.

    Recently, The Q and Chtrbox (an influencer marketing platform acquired by The Q in June) announced the launch of an integrated marketing platform BharatBox which will deliver integrated advertising solutions across linear and digital platforms to marketers, thus maintaining the channel’s ‘social DNA’ even on the business front. “It’s a unique proposition where we will be offering to brands integrated advertising solutions that synergise the reach of social media influencers with The Q’s TV reach.  BharatBox will reach out to tier 2 and 3 towns,” Hoon elaborates.

    Future-ready

    Moving ahead from content and business, The Q has a lot of action happening on the organisational front as well. In addition to Krishna Menon’s elevation as the COO in May, and the new hires for ad sales, the Company appointed Sujata Samant as head of marketing this month. It is pertinent to note here that The Q has not launched any extensive marketing campaigns till now. Further, a distribution consultant and HR head were brought on board recently.

    Hoon credits Tanya Shukla, the programming head, for bringing the brand to where it stands today in that context. Shukla has been in the role for a year now. Giving an understanding of the Company’s overall vision, Hoon remarks, “We are in the process of maturing from a small operating company, a start-up that we still are, to a full-fledged organisation. More people are starting off in different roles and departments even as we speak right now. The recognition that The Q has got has been a little overwhelming for us, but with the right elements in place, we are ready to be seen as a ‘network for the future.”

  • Broadcasters to let 12 August deadline on NTO 2.0 pricing slide

    Broadcasters to let 12 August deadline on NTO 2.0 pricing slide

    New Delhi: The action and buzz is gathering pace in the television ecosystem even as the deadline for broadcasters to file the new pricing for their channels under NTO 2.0 is set to expire on 12 August 2021.

    A section of the distribution sector – consisting of DTH operators and cable TV operators –  maintains that broadcasters will have to file their new reference interconnect orders (RIO) declaring their bouquet pricing and the MRPs of their channels under NTO 2.0 by Thursday.

    The latter had approached the Bombay high court in July asking it to stay the NTO 2.0 but it had turned down their plea. The court had given them six weeks to get their acts together even as it had informed the sectoral regulator – the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) not to take any coercive action against the broadcasters in the interim. The deadline given by the court to them ends on Thursday and the watchdog can, if it chooses, penalise the TV networks.

    Earlier, the Trai had brought down the MRP for a TV channel from Rs 19 to Rs 12, something which the broadcasters have been protesting against.

    Senior executives from TV networks – under the umbrella of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation – were in meetings all of Wednesday. A senior broadcasting executive told Indiantelevision.com that the Trai cannot and should not take a tough stand against broadcasters as the Supreme Court’s next hearing is scheduled for 18 August.

    The IBF and its member broadcasters had challenged the Bombay HC order which had upheld the constitutionality of the NTO 2.0. On 6 August, the apex court asked them to get back to it with slimmer petitions, and posted the matter for hearing on 18 August.

    “The case is sub-judice, and the Supreme Court will hear it only on 18 August so the matter of “stay orders” does not arise,” said the executive.

  • Advertisers demand good news on TV

    Advertisers demand good news on TV

    Mumbai: 2020 was a tough year for industries across the board, including media and entertainment.

    Most observers believed that television news would be immune to the killing nature of the novel corona virus. After all anxious TV news viewers were following minute-by-minute updates about Covid2019’s life threatening rampage and the scores of carcases that were piling up in hospital mortuaries or cemeteries and the by banks of the Ganges – in the virus’ wake. However, this quest for covid2019 updates died soon thereafter as depressed and disturbed TV watchers wanted some better tidings. But that was not to be: controversy after controversy made the top news on daily bulletins 24×7. Net result: viewership of news TV went down south, as did advertising.

    Freedom of expression is a cherished and valued fundamental right. Yet, certain news media outlets have often wielded it to cast aspersions, and run media trials and ended up portraying the accused as guilty, thus irking TV viewers even more. Then there are the high-decibel studio debates, which often end up with no conclusion except for some attention-grabbing visuals.

    Many a commentator, politician, socialite and influencer bemoan the dumbing down and degradation of TV news. As do a section of viewers.  Listen to what eye comfort and eyewear ecomm fim Lenskart, media head, Anupam Tripathi. has to say.

     “Negative programming on news channels is bound to affect a certain set of audience that is niche or more mature to an extent.”

    Berger Paints India, general manager – marketing, Sudhir Nair agrees that that the overly dramatised content catalysed viewers to  cut down on TV news during the pandemic, and it was the lack of new content that actually made them switch to digital and social media outlets for the latest. 

    So what is the way out? One way out is to present developments in a positive way, talk about the good that is going on in society and government, focus on how life is getting better, not worse, points out Tripathi.

    “Unlike the DD days when everyone in the family was glued to a television set for any form of content, the younger lot now has the option to switch to another screen. So if the news channels do not take up the challenge of making their programming more positive and interesting, they might lose this audience. It is important to remember that today the competition is not with other genres, it’s with every other device that is selling news,” adds Tripathi.
     
    Nair goes as far as to say that it’s about time that the TV news sector reinvents its programming and the way it approaches news stories. “it would be great if we could see more positive and inspiring stories,” he adds.

    According to most marketers, a news channel must also bear in mind that it too is a brand which has to take care of its goodwill and credibility and provide a safe environment for TV commercials.  In the past there have been examples where advertisers have either individually or collectively announced that they would refrain from advertising on channels that got into unnecessary controversies. Hence the importance of responsible programming.

    Hence, says a marketer, that it’s interesting that some news networks have announced that the new offerings from their stable will present news through a positive lens, not just a critical, doubting one.  Droom CMO Mohit Ahuja welcomes this trend, adding that “news media is among the top three advertising mediums because of its high reach and affinity among our target group.”

    That should be good news for those who are coming up with channels offering good news.

  • COLORS’ Balika Vadhu returns with Season 2

    COLORS’ Balika Vadhu returns with Season 2

    Mumbai: COLORS is all set to bring back one of its longest-running shows Balika Vadhu after a long hiatus of five years. However, the new season will have new cast members who will reignite the conversation around child marriages with a fresh story.

    The show first aired on COLORS TV in July 2008. It’s set in rural Rajasthan and addressed the subject of child marriage through its protagonist, a child bride, Anandi. Balika Vadhu : Season 2 will capture the journey of a ‘nayi Anandi’, played by Shreya Patel as she takes definitive steps to fight and undo the injustice done to her.

    Produced by Sphere Origins, the show will premiere on 9 August and will air Monday to Friday at 8:00 pm only on COLORS.  

    Speaking about the show, Viacom18, head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, said, “In the past few months, we have introduced some of our biggest properties to provide wholesome variety entertainment to our viewers. From launching a brand-new season of Khatron Ke Khiladi set in Cape Town to announcing a visual-based quiz show, The Big Picture with Ranveer Singh as the host. Keeping the momentum high, we are excited to launch the second season of Balika Vadhu, that is synonymous with the ethos of the channel. Armed with a brand-new story and characters, we will showcase one of the most loved shows with a social message that still holds a strong relevance.”  

    Set in the rustic locales of the town of Devgarh, Gujarat, Balika Vadhu season 2 traces the story of two friends, Premji (played by Sunny Pancholi) and Khimji (played by Anshul Trivedi). They share a bond so thick that they always wished to extend their friendship and become one family. As fate would have it, Khimji’s wife gives birth to a girl, Anandi, while a little boy Jigar (Played by Vansh Sayani) is born to Premji. The very day, Premji and Khimji promise each other to get Anandi and Jigar married and soon there comes a day when they are wedded to each other in a ‘Baal Vivah’. 

    According to Viacom18, chief content officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Manisha Sharma Balika Vadhu is more than just a show, it is an emotion. She elaborated, “There has been a generation of viewers who have grown up loving and watching the show and still do. The new season of Balika Vadhu will addresses the custom of child marriage albeit from a whole new perspective. It will introduce the audience to a new Anandi and the challenges that she faces as a child bride. Nayi Anandi will fight for her rights and surely turn out to be an inspiration to many girls suffering a similar fate and will touch the hearts and minds of our viewers.”  

    Producer, Sphere Origins, Sunjoy Wadhwa, said that he has always believed in the power of stories and the change that they can bring. “The entire nation is a witness to how Balika Vadhu changed the perception of millions across the country and the face of Indian television. We still believe in the power of its concept as a section of our society affirms the custom of child marriage even today,” he said. 

    According to Comall Wadhwa, the new season of Balika Vadhu will take viewers to the nooks and corners of Gujarat to tell the story of Nayi Anandi. “A lot of girls are still fighting this battle of being in a child marriage every day and our story and characters will be an inspiration to them. We are delighted to join hands with COLORS yet again and look forward to creating the magic,” added Wadhwa. 

    The show will also feature Anshul Trivedi, Riddhi Shukla, Sunny Pancholi, Shiju Kataria and Seema Mishra in prominent roles.   

    The channel has designed a robust marketing plan across print, television, and digital platforms to promote the new show. On television, a ten-day campaign highlighting the nostalgia aspect of the show will be deployed. The show’s music track has been recreated and interwoven with each creative to build recall and drive viewership. The channel will also be targeting print publications across key markets on the launch day showcasing the innocence and feistiness of the nayi Anandi. 

    A digital event (COLORS Golden Petal Club) for the viewers featuring Avika Gor, Anandi from Season One is also planned for the viewers and promises to take them on a trip down memory lane. On the digital front, vignettes will be created featuring the former cast of the show- Avika Gor and Avinash Mukherjee as they talk about their memories of season one. This will also be backed by influencer outreach to create conversations around the show along with some videos which will highlight the life of the children who have lived through this social evil.  

  • Zee Media Corp revenue rises 28.8 % to Rs 170 crore in Q1

    Zee Media Corp revenue rises 28.8 % to Rs 170 crore in Q1

    Mumbai: Zee Media Corporation’s operational revenue was up 28.8 per cent to Rs 170.18 crore for the quarter ended in June 2021 as against Rs 132.14 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

    The network has reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 9.06 crore for the quarter under review on account of exceptional items. The company has posted a net profit of Rs 12.26 crore during the April-June quarter of the previous fiscal, Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) said in a regulatory filing.

    ZMCL’s total expenses were at Rs 157.70 crore, up 35.16 per cent Q1/FY 2021-22, as against Rs 116.68 crore. The company suffered a loss of Rs 17.11 crore for exceptional items and tax for April-June quarter.

    ZMCL comprises of 14 news channels, including one Global, three National and ten Regional/language channels – Zee News, Zee Business, WION, Zee Hindustan, Zee Punjab Haryana Himachal, Zee Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh, Zee 24 Taas, Zee 24 Ghanta, Zee Odisha, Zee Bihar Jharkhand, Zee Rajasthan, Zee Salaam, Zee 24 Kalak, and Zee Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand.

    The company said its digital news portfolio continues to witness growth across the properties. The language news properties spanning 16 brands in 12 languages received 1.9 billion views in Q1 FY22 compared to 1.6 billion views in Q4FY21. Monthly Average Users (MAUs) grew from 107.7 million in Q4FY21 to 141.9 million in Q1FY22.

    Meanwhile, the company has appointed Swetha Gopalan as an Independent director of the company for a term of five consecutive years with effect from 1 August. Gopalan started her career in 2010, when she joined Johns Hopkins Medicine International, USA, and has worked with Parkway Health and The Noble Group, both in Singapore. She also worked as a Business Analyst with Tata Consultancy Services in the USA from 2015 to 2016.