MUMBAI: With a growth of 1.07 per cent, the kids genre in all India 1 lakh+, marked the highest opportunity to see (OTS) among all categories in week 46 of Chrome Data Analytics and Media. Discovery garnered the highest OTS in kids’ genre with 90.5 per cent.
The Hindi news genre came in second in the gainers list of OTS with 0.85 per cent; DD News gained the highest OTS with 99.4 per cent growth in HSM excluding the less than 1L-market, followed by English news genre coming in third in the gainers list of OTS with 0.62 per cent in 6 metros market. Loksabha TV garnered the highest OTS in the English news genre with 98.3 per cent.
OTS is the actual census-based percentage connectivity of a channel spread across 81 million homes, as reported by Chrome DM, across analogue cable, digital cable and DTH.
The fourth position in the gainer’s list of OTS was grabbed by music in HSM excluding the less than 1L-market with 0.22 per cent. 9X Jalwa raked in the highest OTS in the music genre with 94.3 per cent. Religious genre stood at fifth position in HSM excluding the less than 1L-market with 0.04 per cent by Aastha gaining the highest OTS with 98.2 per cent.
MUMBAI: Leading Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has joined hands with Discovery to promote a global awareness movement to save tigers from extinction. Anushka will promote Project C.A.T: Conserving Acres for Tigers, aimed at raising awareness to preserve the habitat of the declining numbers of the wild tiger. Discovery has collaborated with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Project C.A.T.
Anushka having consistently championed the cause of animal welfare is well poised to front this social service campaign on Tiger conservation. Anushka who was recognized as PETA’s person of the year 2017 has recently announced her dream project of building an animal shelter.
“Tigers – the glorious wild cats are in real danger of getting extinct and they need our help. As a large predator, tigers are an umbrella specie and play a critical role in ensuring that the delicate ecological balance in the wild is maintained,” said, Anushka Sharma. “The current situation is a sad reflection of us as human beings. All of us need to reflect how we can contribute to make the world a better place to live and ensure that our future generations too can experience this magnificent creature. I just cannot fathom this world without them.”
“More humane than you think, you could say, almost human, like us,” signs off Anushka in the powerful video. Promo Link- https://youtu.be/0QBWCl6qn2g
“Tigers are a revered specie and is disturbing to know that their population has shrunk 96% over the last century and only as few as 3900 are left in the wild across the world,” said, Karan Bajaj, Senior Vice President & General Manager – South Asia, Discovery Communications India. “We are excited to partner with Anushka Sharma to ignite awareness about tiger conservation and help promote the global movement to save them. We will use the collective power of our media brands to amplify the message of Tiger conservation.”
As part of the WWF partnership launched in 2016, Discovery’s Project C.A.T. program funds nearly two million acres of protected habitat in India and Bhutan to protect and increase the wild tiger population. This year Discovery has further increased the ambit of Project C.A.T by extending support to WWF for Tiger conservation initiatives in Sundarbans forest located in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal.
Animal Planet channel from the house of Discovery has always been at the forefront of promoting conservation of wild animals. The channel recently showcased the Second Season of Mission Big Cat – An anthology of shows dedicated to Big Cats. The programming, which included world-class series like Big Cat Legacy, Jaguar Super Cats, Vanishing Kings II, Extinct or Alive, Queen Of The Hunt and Brazil Super Cats, showcased the largest feline predator at their majestic best.
SINGAPORE: TiVo Corporation (NASDAQ: TIVO), a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that Foxtel, Australia’s leading subscription-TV platform, has renewed its license to TiVo’s Search and Recommendation services and will have access to TiVo’s Personalized Content Discovery platform. As a long-term Search and Recommendation customer, the renewal will provide Foxtel’s subscribers in Australia with the latest TiVo innovations to help power entertainment experiences.
“We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with TiVo, in order to ensure we have the most advanced content discovery technology at our subscribers’ fingertips across a multitude of devices,” said Michael Ivanchenko, Foxtel’s director of Product Design & Development. “Foxtel has a legacy of driving innovation across the Australian television landscape TiVo’s solutions are a strong contributor in helping us to stay at the forefront of bringing the latest entertainment services to our viewers.”
“Foxtel’s continued investment and trust in TiVo’s personalised discovery capabilities demonstrates our innovation leadership and differentiation in such a competitive landscape,” said Samuel Sweet, senior vice president, Sales EMEA and APAC, TiVo. “We are proud to continue working with Foxtel, one of the most progressive and dynamic media companies in Asia Pacific, to enable viewers to benefit from a personalized discovery experience, dramatically improving the viewer experience and increasing engagement.”
TiVo’s Personalized Content Discovery platform is revolutionizing the way video service providers deliver content to viewers, and ultimately the way consumers find something they want to watch across devices. Guided by the belief that consumers should not have to work to find relevant content, TiVo’s multi-dimensional approach delivers highly relevant search results, customized recommendations carousels and increased convenience with natural voice recognition and insights for an enhanced viewing experience.
MUMBAI: The one-hour special documentary Kerala Floods – The Human Story on Discovery Channel is a poignant take on the indomitable spirit of Kerala who instead of losing hope, are steadily working towards rebuilding their beloved state. The documentary is a celebration of the spirit of survival in the face of disaster; viewers will get to witness incredible stories of people coming together to help those in need – from fishermen turned rescue operators to the defence forces who provided aid, from actors who worked alongside NGO workers to get supplies to those in need to young entrepreneurs who devised ways to connect people at a time when the apocalyptic rain fury just refused to die. The documentary also features the story of Sajitha Jabil who was just three days away from her due date, her labour pains had intensified, and water levels were still rising. She was airlifted in one of the most dramatic rescues of Indian Navy’s Operation Madad. By the afternoon, baby Subhan was in her arms unaware of the many storms his mother braved to bring him into this world. This one-hour special documentary will be broadcast on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 9 PM, only on Discovery Channel.
It all began on Independence Day this year, when Kerala started experiencing an extremely heavy downpour. Little did the inhabitants of the state know that soon they were going to witness the worst deluge Kerala had seen in almost a century. In over eleven straight days of intense rainfall nearly 25 trillion litres of water fell on Kerala—a state with one of the highest density of population, 44 rivers and 61 dams. Water is a lifeline, defining not just Kerala’s geography but its history and economics as well. The watery abundance gives it life and sustenance. The biggest flood in almost a century devastated most of the state. God’s own country will need to rebuild 218 bridges, nearly 35,000 kilometres of local roads, an estimated 174,000 houses. Agriculture crops in over 46,000 hectares was destroyed. The loss because of the floods has been estimated at INR 40,000 crores.
Highlighting the importance of this documentary, Zulfia Waris, Vice-President & Head, Premium & Digital Networks, Discovery Communications India, said, “What Kerala witnessed this year is a disaster of unimaginable magnitude. But like any news cycle, there’s always something else that takes precedence and yesterday’s headlines lay forgotten. The idea of presenting the documentary, 'Kerala Floods – The Human Story', is to draw attention to the hundreds of people who are working tirelessly to rebuild Kerala. Through stories about surprising strength of character in times of disaster and hope in the face of abject loss, ‘Kerala Floods’ aims to tell the story of a Kerala that refuses to be defined by devastation. Everyone saw the destruction of Kerala, it is now time they get to see the efforts that are being made to rebuild it, one brick at a time.”
Kerala Floods, which will be showcased on Discovery Channel on Monday 12th November 2018 at 9:00 pm will take viewers through inspiring stories of people of Kerala who refuse to lose hope and are working tirelessly to piece back everything that was lost.
MUMBAI: PUBG Mobile has launched its first ever TVC in India. In its ongoing endeavour to increase customer touch base, the campaign comprises of 2 TVCs. One focuses on the thrilling new Sanhok map and the other on the gameplay of the most famous video game the country has ever seen.
The TVC was strategically launched, to coincide with the holiday season of Dussehra/Diwali when most of our players spend time watching telly, with their families.
The launch of the TVC corroborates the substance of India as a market for PUBG MOBILE. We all know someone who plays PUBG MOBILE. This simple fact is testimony to the impact of the game in India. The transition from gaming sub-Culture to pop-Culture is imminent.
The video lands right in the middle of the chaotic combat in Sanhok PUBG MOBILE’s all new map. The TVC presents the nail-biting aura of combat through stellar explosions and life-like battle scenarios in the Battle Royale game that has taken India by storm.
The TVC would be aired on a host of Hindi and English movie; infotainment; English entertainment; Hindi music and English music channels. You can catch the commercial on HBO HD, Star Gold, Sony Mix, VH1, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel and Star Movies, to name a few.
In addition to the inaugural TVC, PUBG MOBILE is all set to sponsor some of the biggest feature presentations for the calendar year. The marketing emphasis is as clear as day with Thor Ragnarok, Justice League and Gold (Starring Akshay Kumar), set to be powered by PUBG MOBILE, for their national premieres. India’s favorite mobile game has also nailed in sponsored spots for ‘High Altitude Warrior School’ and ‘Moonbound’ on Discovery Channel.
MUMBAI: It’s home! That’s the cry that almost every broadcaster is uttering today when it comes to wooing viewers with content. Even as kids’, lifestyle and GECs are witnessing an uptake in local content, the infotainment genre isn’t going to be left behind.
Earlier, there were only syndicated shows dubbed in Hindi that aired on TV and yet it worked well with the audiences in India. Later, broadcasters felt the need to evolve as per the taste buds of the Indian viewers and that’s when regional feeds came into the picture. Syndicated content was definitely cheaper than self-production.
Discovery, History TV18, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Epic TV and Sony BBC Earth are the players in the market competing against each other for eyeballs. Broadcasters found Tamil and Telugu as viable regional languages to start with. Discovery and National Geographic channels are the only exceptions having Bengali language in their kitty. Epic TV is the only one with Hindi language. It is also the only channel that has all India-centric while the rest of the players have a mix of syndicated content and home-grown shows.
According to the BARC data week 37, Epic TV bagged fourth position with 1962 impressions sum. Back in 2014, Epic TV called itself a GEC channel and three years later, the channel felt the need to switch to the infotainment genre. Its move proved to be a success as the channel’s market share scaled up from 3 to 15 per cent market share.
Talking about Sony BBC Earth, it leapfrogged Discovery that was ruling the infotainment genre for almost for a decade, within a year of its launch. The channel increased its market share from 22 per cent to 26 per cent in the six metro cities. In an earlier interview, Sony Pictures Network English cluster business head Tushar Shah told Indiantelevision.com that the category which is supposed to be informative along with entertainment in it is missing the first half. Brushing aside the claims of the challenges in the infotainment genre, Discovery claimed to enjoy a 23 per cent market share in the All India Urban (2+) area. It also claimed that when its Tamil channel is factored into the number games, the channel's share of the pie grew by four per cent.
Similarly, History TV18 also has plans to woo audiences with more local content. History TV18 EVP Arun Thappar said in an interaction that that channel is not just looking at notching up the number of hours of local content but is creating content that is relatable to its audience. Also, in a media report, A+E Networks TV18 VP and marketing head Sangeetha Aiyer said, “I think that localisation is the next logical progression in the evolution of any global product. This is more so in a country like India, which is very inward-looking and has potential for great content. The infotainment genre occupies only about one per cent of total TV consumption. So, if a channel has to expand, it has to look beyond global content. All our local productions have universal themes but with a local lens.”
Considering all the above factors, it clearly means that the infotainment genre isn’t saturated now as it used to be earlier. The genre is growing breaking the cliché from just syndicated content to Indian home-grown content.
As per the BARC data from week 41, Sony BBC Earth continued to lead the genre with 4131 impressions (000s) sum, followed by Discovery Channel, History TV18 and National Geographic Channel retaining its second, third and fourth positions respectively as compared to the previous week (40) with 3995 impressions (000s) sum, 3723 impressions (000s) sum and 2699 impressions (000s) sum. Animal Planet emerged as the new player in the market by replacing Nat Geo Wild, on the fifth position with 2523 impressions (000s) sum.
How the genre manages to grow the appetite of the people for local content remains to be seen.
OTT platforms and players are dominating the entertainment space by providing unrivalled flexibility and easy access to view a multitude of shows of various genres as well as original content without censorship. Over the past half a decade, these platforms are emerging as the go-to content consumption destination for users who look for variety and quality content to pass their free time. According to Deloitte, OTT platforms could easily cater to an audience of 355 million by 2020.Its impact on traditional media networks and video distributors has been immense. A lot of conventional entertainment platforms, in fact, can take a leaf out of the books of successful OTT platforms and revamp their offerings to boost growth and enhance viewership. Given below are a few learnings from the OTT platforms that can be beneficial for the media and entertainment industry.
1) While OTT players started off by providing Hindi and English content, they realized that there is an immense potential in India for regional content, with75% of new internet users expected to consume data in local languages by 2020. OTT players realized that regional content could further drive demand and attract more users across the country . There are several studies that prove that regional content consumption drives thrice the amount of engagement and accessibility, which means the media and entertainment industries, should be able to connect with diverse target groups across India with relevant content to enhance their growth opportunities. As per a report by IAMAI and Kantar IMRB, presently, there are 160 million potential new users for online viewing in urban India and 732 million potential new users in rural India. They can be easily tapped by addressing the issue of the language of access on various platforms.
2) Discovery of content is of more importance than ever before, as it helps consumers to easily access the content that will appeal to them the most. OTT players have enabled easy discovery of content for users with AI-based recommendation engines, automatic content display basis, etc. The ability to quickly search all the available content and pair it with any device can be overwhelming for viewers. While quality and entertaining content are prerequisites to augment subscription and grow consumer affinity, the media and entertainment industry should also ensure that their offerings are easily discoverable and the delivery uncomplicated in order to retain or enhance user base. Recommendation engines are considered to be highly powerful personalization tools, as they help improve a visitor’s experience by offering relevant items at the right time and on the right page.
3) While the real differentiator is content when it comes to OTT platforms, a lot of players are now investing in improving their tech and platform capabilities to ensure that viewers have the best possible experience while consuming their content of choice. OTT platforms have pulled out all the stops to ensure that even during high concurrency periods, such as Cricket or Football season, the viewing experience of users is uninhibited and they are able to enjoy the games without a glitch. All of this requires tremendous innovation and investment in terms of technology, which OTT platforms haven’t shied away from and other players in the domain would do well to emulate.
4) In times to come, aggregation models will gain prominence and enable consumers to navigate through the vast amount of content available online. Currently, nexGTV is one of the most advanced OTT content aggregation platforms, providing content to multi-screen equipment. Users are easily able tostream media channels ona variety of terminals, like mobile phone, smart TV, high-definition player, etc., anywhere at any time. Apart from offering original shows and series, OTT players are now charging a minimal fee for each piece of content basis the demand witnessed from the users.
5) Gone are the days when only short-format content such as short films, caught the attention of viewers on OTT platforms. These days, people are equally interested in viewing long-format content on their mobile phones and are eager to finish watching a movie or a web series during their commute time. So it is no more just content snacking, it is serious viewing in India post low cost and steady internet availability that is attracting today’s new-age consumers. The media and entertainment industry should be able to up their ante and release content that is relevant to consumers’ specific interests and viewing preferences, regardless of the length and format of the content.
The article has been authored by NexGTv head, growth Dushyant Kohli
The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Indiantelevision.com and we do not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
MUMBAI: Discovery, India’s leading infotainment channel, will give an all-access pass to the viewers to delve deep into the lives of India’s first generation of female combat aircraft pilots with its new series – Women Fighter Pilots. It is a fascinating story of 3 women – Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh – pioneers of our time, fighting the odds and changing mindsets.
The 2-part series premiers August 24 at 21:00 hrs on Discovery Channel and Discovery World HD. Veer by Discovery, India’s leading dedicated military channel on YouTube, will also showcase short stories on Women Fighter Pilots. The on-air broadcast of the show is Co-Presented by Flipkart while Kirloskar and Airtel have come on board as Co Powered by Sponsors.
Till 2015, the flight cadets of the Air Force Academy were given a choice between three flying streams – Helicopters, Transport and Fighters. Fighter flying being the only stream reserved for men. Then, the Indian Air Force made a landmark decision to open the fighter flying program for its female cadets on an experimental basis for a period of five years. Creating history, the first batch of three women fighter pilots — Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh were inducted in Indian Air Force fighter squadron. A significant milestone for the Indian Air Force, as this marked the first time it permitted women in combat roles.
“The women fighters have become a modern symbol of women empowerment – they have broken the last of all barriers by becoming a fighter pilot. We are excited to showcase this amazing story to our viewers. Such purpose led content excites us,” said, Zulfia Waris, Vice President – Premium & Digital Networks, Discovery Communications India. “These Women Fighter Pilots have given wings to the ambitions of Indian Women who want to don the G-Suit and defend the country as a part of Indian Air Force. We have explored this captivating human story of ambition, of not saying no, in a manner that has not been done before.”
The Women Fighter Pilot series captures the emotions of the 3 pilots, their families, colleagues in their squadron et al to delayer all aspects of their life. During the show, the 3 Fighter Pilots discuss about whether the media glare that followed them has created extra pressure. Bhawana Kanth, says, “I don’t think that there is pressure. I am doing my job; something which I have always wanted to do – serving the nation as a fighter pilot. If people are getting inspired; why should I feel any pressure, I am still doing my thing.”
Mohana Singh, adds, “I won’t say that it is about pressure, but yes, it is about performing in such a way that you can justify the people who are looking up to you. The development of Women opting for the Fighter stream has been highlighted to create awareness and to inspire more women to join the forces.”
Avani Chaturvedi says, “Being famous made it a little difficult to adjust in the squadron initially. This popularity and over appreciation of things was a little difficult for us, because fauj (army) is all about working in a team. So, if entire team is not getting highlighted then why only three of us?”
The telecast of a special series on Women Fighter Pilots follows the successful premier of the Breaking Point series on Air Force Academy and Indian Submariners earlier this year. In the past, Discovery has given viewers a never seen before glimpse of the intense, gruelling training programs of the Indian Armed Forces through shows such as Breaking Point: Commando School Belgaum (2017), ‘India’s Paratroopers – Earning the Badge’ (2016) and ‘Revealed: National Defence Academy’ (2014). ‘Revealed Siachen’ (2016) shared the story of Siachen Glacier and the challenges faced by the Indian soldiers while on duty there. ‘1965: India’s Battles and Heroes’ (2015) commemorated the 50th anniversary of the India-Pakistan war. Discovery’s crew traversed along with select officers of Indian Army during the Himalaya expedition for ‘Indian Army Women’s Expedition’ (2013).
MUMBAI: Dsport will broadcast the 147th edition of the much awaited ‘British Open’ live in India. The tournament will commence from 19 July 2018 at the Carnoustie Golf Course, Scotland.
The British Open 2018 will once again see a strong line-up of marquee golfers competing to become the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ and lift the iconic Claret Jug. The likes of Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Kevin Chappel, Tiger Woods, Anirban Lahiri along with defending champion Jordan Speith will fight for a handsome prize purse of $10.8 million out of which $1.89 million will be the winner’s share.
The prestigious championship will be from 19 -22 July 2017 at 7 pm.
The British Open also known as the Open Championship is one of the four major championships in Golf.
Dsport’s portfolio of live sports content includes the best of wrestling, football, cycling, horse-racing, golf, tennis, motorsports, and extreme sports from around the world. From the Tour de France to the Six Nations Rugby, the prestigious British Open in golf to football’s Chinese Super League.
MUMBAI: TLC, a part of Discovery, has announced the telecast of the fifth season of the culinary competition series Masterchef Canada from 26 June in India. The show is produced by Proper Television in association with CTV and co-powered by Jockey woman while Budweiser Experience has come on-board as an associate sponsor.
In each episode, the home cooks are pushed to the limit in a series of mystery box challenges, team challenges, and pressure tests, with the three judges providing direction and feedback throughout the process. Each task is designed to test and hone the home cooks’ skill, knowledge, passion, and creativity. At the conclusion of each episode at least one person is eliminated until there are only two home cooks left vying for the life-changing Masterchef Canada title. The winner will get $100,000 cash prize.
Discovery Communications India VP premium and digital networks Zulfia Waris said, “We are delighted to bring back the new season of Masterchef Canada this monsoon and welcome the next group of talented home cooks looking to make their culinary dreams a reality. The earlier seasons of Masterchef Canada have been extremely well received by food aficionados across the country. We will play up the passion even more with this exciting new season.”
The show’s format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Endemol Shine Group, and is based on a format originally created by Franc Roddam.
