ITV

Tag: DNA

  • Viacom18 surprised its female employees with cupcakes on Women’s Day

    Viacom18 surprised its female employees with cupcakes on Women’s Day

    MUMBAI: On International Women’s day Viacom18 thought of a great way to surprise their women employees- with Cupcakes! They walked into their offices to be greeted with a bright and cheery box that held a sweet surprise. A welcome sugar rush early in the morning.

    Media & Entertainment is always stressful with pressures 24/7 and this gesture was much appreciated by the women. The menwere given 5 placards with taglines like Red Bull Lady, Invincible Rock, Sweetest Soul, Brightest Star etc. When you work with your colleagues for long hours people’s personalities shine through. They had to give their favorite women colleagues the sayings that applied to them. In this way they wereable to express their appreciation for their colleagues with personal messages at the back of the cards.  

    Given the fact that Viacom18 network has a multigenerational workforce, women of all ages enjoyed this gesture. Whilequirky is part of the Network’s DNA they didn’t have to think too far out of the box as Cupcakes win every time!

  • Cut The Crap launches design unit

    Cut The Crap launches design unit

    MUMBAI: Cut The Crap, a Mumbai based creative agency, has launched its design unit – Design Sell, which will focus on brand identity, packaging, digital and 3D designs and BTL amongst others. 

    While the unit will work as a part of the agency, it will function independently with a separate team. The new entity Design Sell will be headed by Renuka Desilva.

    Cut The Crap founder and creative head Jagdish Acharya said, “I am excited to announce the launch of Design Sell. Cut The Crap has made its mark as a creative boutique for brand building. Design Sell derives its DNA from Cut The Crap. Design is never without a marketing purpose, the objective of design in the world of brands is to sell and to therefore it is imperative that design be strategic and a part of the brand building ecosystem. Therefore, the name Design Sell. The need was felt to launch the division on its own so it can be nurtured and grown to its true potential.”

    Speaking on the potential, Acharya added, “The demand for strategic design has been growing and not just from one-off clients looking for logos, brand identity and such. We work a lot with start-ups. Some of them need only design inputs first and a full service creative interface later. Then there are those who use only BTL as a medium of brand building and they need it to be managed through strategic inputs similar to ATL.”

    Design Sell creative director and head Renuka Desilva said, “I am looking forward to building Design Sell on the terra firma of strategy and creative foundations of design. It is the understanding of brand and marketing needs that will differentiate us from other design houses. Our aim over the next two – three years will be to build a strong portfolio that showcases our point of difference. Business will only follow.”

  • Cut The Crap launches design unit

    Cut The Crap launches design unit

    MUMBAI: Cut The Crap, a Mumbai based creative agency, has launched its design unit – Design Sell, which will focus on brand identity, packaging, digital and 3D designs and BTL amongst others. 

    While the unit will work as a part of the agency, it will function independently with a separate team. The new entity Design Sell will be headed by Renuka Desilva.

    Cut The Crap founder and creative head Jagdish Acharya said, “I am excited to announce the launch of Design Sell. Cut The Crap has made its mark as a creative boutique for brand building. Design Sell derives its DNA from Cut The Crap. Design is never without a marketing purpose, the objective of design in the world of brands is to sell and to therefore it is imperative that design be strategic and a part of the brand building ecosystem. Therefore, the name Design Sell. The need was felt to launch the division on its own so it can be nurtured and grown to its true potential.”

    Speaking on the potential, Acharya added, “The demand for strategic design has been growing and not just from one-off clients looking for logos, brand identity and such. We work a lot with start-ups. Some of them need only design inputs first and a full service creative interface later. Then there are those who use only BTL as a medium of brand building and they need it to be managed through strategic inputs similar to ATL.”

    Design Sell creative director and head Renuka Desilva said, “I am looking forward to building Design Sell on the terra firma of strategy and creative foundations of design. It is the understanding of brand and marketing needs that will differentiate us from other design houses. Our aim over the next two – three years will be to build a strong portfolio that showcases our point of difference. Business will only follow.”

  • Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    MUMBAI: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment has received a significant investment from global merchant bank The Raine Group.

    Over the past three decades, Hollywood production company Imagine has created culture-defining stories in film and television. With Raine’s investment, Imagine will further expand its creative footprint, working with content creators across the entertainment spectrum and exploring new ways to integrate storytelling and technology.

    “The ways in which content is created and consumed are transforming faster than ever before, expanding in directions that hadn’t been conceived even a few years ago. The opportunity to extend Imagine’s reach across this expanding landscape is a driving force for us. Through this partnership, we are incredibly excited to roll out a slate of new projects that capture the imagination and visions we share on a global scale,” said Grazer.

    Raine’s investment will provide Imagine with the backing to continue its strong growth trajectory under the leadership of Grazer and Howard, enabling the company to invest in content directly with other artists.  In addition to television and film production, Imagine will continue to expand into new areas such as branded content, location based entertainment and digital formats, taking advantage of new technologies and forms of distribution. The company expects to explore both organic growth opportunities as well as potential acquisitions.

    Howard added, “We are proud of the legacy we have built with Imagine and are more excited than ever to build on it by tapping into our creative, experimental and entrepreneurial DNA to ignite new passion projects. This investment and partnership unlocks new doors for us as creators and for the company and its expansionary endeavours. It allows us to build upon our creative relationships to broaden our reach into all narrative formats and platforms. We appreciate Raine’s support and welcome them to the Imagine family.”

    Previously Raine has invested in companies like Vice Media, Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s Important Studios, action sports company Nitro Circus and fantasy sports operator Draft Kings. Additional strategic co-investors brought in by Raine include China Media Capital, the Antenna Group and WPP. 

    “We have long admired Ron, Brian and their team as master storytellers. We are excited to invest in and partner with Imagine as they expand their many successful franchises across new mediums,” said Raine entertainment practice head Erik Hodge.

    “We have built our business on the principle that content and creators are the most valuable elements in today’s media ecosystem. Imagine’s well-established reputation as a talent-friendly creative partner was incredibly important to us, and we look forward to helping them grow their business and continue to tell amazing stories and astonish and delight global audiences as they continue in this tradition,” added Raine co-founder Joe Ravitch.

    In connection with the transaction, both Hodge and Ravitch will join Imagine’s board.

  • Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    MUMBAI: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment has received a significant investment from global merchant bank The Raine Group.

    Over the past three decades, Hollywood production company Imagine has created culture-defining stories in film and television. With Raine’s investment, Imagine will further expand its creative footprint, working with content creators across the entertainment spectrum and exploring new ways to integrate storytelling and technology.

    “The ways in which content is created and consumed are transforming faster than ever before, expanding in directions that hadn’t been conceived even a few years ago. The opportunity to extend Imagine’s reach across this expanding landscape is a driving force for us. Through this partnership, we are incredibly excited to roll out a slate of new projects that capture the imagination and visions we share on a global scale,” said Grazer.

    Raine’s investment will provide Imagine with the backing to continue its strong growth trajectory under the leadership of Grazer and Howard, enabling the company to invest in content directly with other artists.  In addition to television and film production, Imagine will continue to expand into new areas such as branded content, location based entertainment and digital formats, taking advantage of new technologies and forms of distribution. The company expects to explore both organic growth opportunities as well as potential acquisitions.

    Howard added, “We are proud of the legacy we have built with Imagine and are more excited than ever to build on it by tapping into our creative, experimental and entrepreneurial DNA to ignite new passion projects. This investment and partnership unlocks new doors for us as creators and for the company and its expansionary endeavours. It allows us to build upon our creative relationships to broaden our reach into all narrative formats and platforms. We appreciate Raine’s support and welcome them to the Imagine family.”

    Previously Raine has invested in companies like Vice Media, Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s Important Studios, action sports company Nitro Circus and fantasy sports operator Draft Kings. Additional strategic co-investors brought in by Raine include China Media Capital, the Antenna Group and WPP. 

    “We have long admired Ron, Brian and their team as master storytellers. We are excited to invest in and partner with Imagine as they expand their many successful franchises across new mediums,” said Raine entertainment practice head Erik Hodge.

    “We have built our business on the principle that content and creators are the most valuable elements in today’s media ecosystem. Imagine’s well-established reputation as a talent-friendly creative partner was incredibly important to us, and we look forward to helping them grow their business and continue to tell amazing stories and astonish and delight global audiences as they continue in this tradition,” added Raine co-founder Joe Ravitch.

    In connection with the transaction, both Hodge and Ravitch will join Imagine’s board.

  • Go Digital, Go Local is flavour of Asia TV Forum 2015

    Go Digital, Go Local is flavour of Asia TV Forum 2015

    SINGAPORE: It seems the pre-market conference is looking to set the tone for the rest of the market as well. Everyone, who is either involved in the content creation or content aggregation end, is thinking digital and going local.

     

    Post the keynotes earlier in the day, the sessions that followed include: ‘The Future of TV and Visual Entertainment,’ ‘Native Players, Digital Strategies,’ ‘View from Over The Top’ and ‘Digital Content: Cashing in or Cashing out?’

     

    In the first one, UK-based Ovum’s practice leader Ed Barton took to stage and gave some valuable insights in terms of how the world’s leading broadcasters and pay-TV operators are rethinking their business models to adapt to the ever changing and evolving viewing habits of the consumers. And even more importantly how advertisers are now thinking outside the box to catch their next potential customer.

     

    “Pay-TV growth in developing regions will be driven by finer market segmentation. While digital will continue to grow and rely heavily on what millennials choose to consume, with creators having to strategise better and cater to those needs,” said Barton.

     

    According to Ovum’s study, India’s average revenue per user (ARPU) from Pay-TV subscribers would be around $7.24 by 2020, whereas that for APAC will be at $8.63. But, what was more interesting is the fact that according to the same study, China would be having a lower ARPU than the Indian sub-continent, which is somewhat hard to digest. “The growth for video on demand services and HD services will be directly proportional to the ARPUs drive they receive,” Barton added.

     

    Next up the panel discussing ‘Native Players, Digital Strategies’ saw Endemol Asia MD Fotini Parakakis, MNC Sky Vision – Indonesia, VP director Yudha Wibawa and BBC Worldwide – SEA, SVP & GM Monty Ghai giving their views on what they believe is the future of digital content from the broadcaster’s perspective.

     

    “Broadcasters and brands are more open than ever before to explore differentiated content offerings and break out of the old school, tried and tested formulas. It’s heartening to see independent content creators, who got their very own multi-channel networks (MCNs) now taking it a step ahead by working with broadcasters to create more engaging content,” said Parakakis.

     

    Sharing similar views BBC’s Ghai shared, “We are exploring short format shows as well, but our main focus will continue to remain long form premium content since that’s in our DNA. That being said, what I believe will work for SEA and rest of Asia is if digital content can be used to drive audiences to consume more content on linear as well, rather than leading to cannibalise its presence.”

     

    Indonesia is somewhat similar to how India is progressing in terms of its digitisation process, and people there too face similar hurdles like low broadband connectivity and penetration, along with infrastructure woes. But even in such a scenario MNC Sky Vision’s Wibawa sees a ray of hope. “Although only a few cities are in the position to look at heavy consumption of content on the mobile (given the low broadband penetration) it is still worth a shot and a fairly large population (read over 30 per cent) that is on the look out for such content,” Wibawa said.

     

    Similar discussions were held during the other two sessions as well, which clearly shows that digital is here to stay and if creators embrace the idea of ‘Going Local, but for the world’ then there’s nothing that can stand in the way of how Asia transforms from being influenced by western content, to influence western content instead.

  • Zee Entertainment forays into theatre; plans 100+ productions

    Zee Entertainment forays into theatre; plans 100+ productions

    MUMBAI: In an attempt to be present across all verticals of entertainment content, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) has now forayed into theatre under the Zee Theatre brand name.

     

    Zeel has taken this initiative so as to make theatre content available through various viewing platforms like online, on-air, on-ground, in-transit for global audiences to consume at their convenience as well as archiving the productions for future generations.

     

    Zee Theatre will partner with renowned playwrights and theatre stalwarts to produce over 100 plays over the next three years.

     

    Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “Theatre has been a part of our DNA for centuries. With Zee Theatre our vision is to preserve this heritage and take these timeless stories to audiences across the country and the rest of the world. It is a very proud moment for us to be able to bring theatre to mainstream entertainment and give the industry its due.”   

     

    “After television and cinema, theatre will be the next content vertical for us at Zee. With Zee Theatre, we are opening up a new genre for multiple screen consumption. This is in line with our strategy of offering differentiated content to our discerning audience base,” he added.

     

    Zee Theatre will bring together works of some of the most acknowledged and renowned playwrights like Mohan Rakesh, Jaywant Dalvi, Vijay Tendulkar, Surendra Verma, Mahesh Dattani, Ranjit Kapoor, Shafaat Khan and many others from Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali and English theatre.

     

    Stalwarts such as Ranjit Kapoor, Mahesh Dattani, Usha Ganguli, Vijay Kenkre, Dr. Vijaya Mehta, Atul Kumar, Ishan Trivedi, Suman Mukhopadhyay, Chandrakant Kulkarni, Rajan Tamhane and many more will be bringing alive some of their best stories on this platform with plays such as Rudali, Sandhya Chhaya, Piya Behrupiya, Janpath Kiss, White Lilly Night Rider, 30 Days in September, Doll’s House and Ma Retire Hoti Hai amongst others.

     

    Zeel chief creative – special projects Shailja Kejriwal added, “The beauty of theatre is that it takes you into a fascinating world of stories across genres from drama and suspense to social issues, musicals, classics and satire in a manner not dealt with on any other medium. With Zee Theatre we aim at nurturing this rich content for present and future generations to continue the legacy, which has been cherished by veterans for decades. I would like to thank the entire theatre industry for extending their support for this initiative.”

     

    Zee will leverage its ability to make theatre available across multiple platforms such as the internet, mobile, DTH, television, in-flight, screenings at multiplexes and educational institutes in addition to existing on-ground performances making theatrical content available to the widest possible audience at their convenience.

  • Al Jazeera America expands executive news team

    Al Jazeera America expands executive news team

    MUMBAI: Al Jazeera America (AJAM) has expanded its executive news team with the appointment of Heather Allan as senior vice president of news gathering.

     

    Additionally, AJAM’s current news gathering head, Amir Ahmed, an Emmy award-winning journalist who held leadership roles at CNN before joining AJAM in 2013, will assume the role of senior vice president of news planning. 

     

    Allan, who is a long-time American news veteran, will be responsible for overseeing all of AJAM’s news coverage. She has worked for 30 years at NBC, including as West Coast bureau chief, before joining Al Jazeera English in 2009 as head of global news gathering.

     

    On the other hand, Ahmed will be responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of AJAM’s high-quality news content.

     

    The appointments reflect a strategic commitment by AJAM to bolster its news gathering resources and realign editorial operations so the network is best positioned to advance its journalistic mission across a range of platforms.

     

    “Amir and Heather are strong leaders whom we’re pleased to have join the newsroom as we continue to advance AJAM’s mission to deliver the highest quality, in-depth journalism to more audiences and through multiple platforms,” said Al Jazeera America executive vice president of content Amjad Atallah.

     

    In her previous role at Al Jazeera English, Allan managed all global news coverage for the network’s 34 bureaus across the world. She played a key role in in launching AJAM in 2013, setting up all of the channel’s domestic bureaus and recruiting news staff for each location.

     

    “Heather’s worldly experience and innate news sense will be a valuable asset in further strengthening AJAM’s exceptionally talented news division,” said Al Jazeera America president Kate O’Brian.

     

    “AJAM’s unique mission, passionate journalists and dedication to its editorial vision are characteristics that I truly admire in this young network,” added Allan. “I’m excited about the opportunity to be part of it at such a pivotal time, as AJAM defines its role in the market and promotes the value of its content to new audiences.”

     

    “With a news team committed to delivering content that’s consistently second to none, it’s a fascinating opportunity to work amongst journalists who all share the same mission,” said Ahmed. “I’m looking forward to having Heather on board as we embark on this next phase of AJAM, working together to reach new heights while ensuring our quality journalism continues to reflect our editorial DNA.”

  • Zee Tamil acquires ‘DNA’ format rights from Bomanbridge Media

    Zee Tamil acquires ‘DNA’ format rights from Bomanbridge Media

    MUMBAI: In a first for the channel, Zee Tamil has licensed the format of a show called DNA from the Singapore-based distribution and production agency, Bomanbridge Media.

     

    The channel will produce 26 episodes of the show in Tamil. The format has previously been produced in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Indonesia.

     

    Additionally, Bomanbridge Media has also inked a format deal with Vietnam’s Lasta Multimedia, which has licensed Beauty Academy created by A2G Creations. The format of Beauty Academy was previously sold in China on Dragon TV, and in Brazil on Globo TV.

     

    “The ultimate test for an international TV format is in its ability to travel to distant lands, take on local flavours without losing its fundamental characteristics. We’re delighted that TV networks in South Asia are increasingly looking to us to bring them these winning formulas for non-fiction programming,” said Bomanbridge South Asia office head Arpit Agarwal.

     

    “Bomanbridge Media has licensed other successful formats in the region such as NHK’s Dr. What and Miss Country Girl to China and are pleased to add the popular formats, Beauty Academy and DNA to the list. We look forward to working closely with Zee and Lasta Multimedia to help them create winning versions of these shows,” said Bomanbridge Media CEO Sonia Fleck.

     

    “We bring hot formats to the region, as Asian broadcasters continue to have an appetite for the genre,” Fleck added.

  • Zee Media Q2: posts 76 per cent growth in ad revenues

    Zee Media Q2: posts 76 per cent growth in ad revenues

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation (ZMCL) has reported a 57.9 per cent rise in its operating revenue (Total Income from Operations – TIO) in Q2-2015 to Rs 131.12 crore from Rs 83.02 crore in the corresponding quarter last year (Q1-2014) and a one per cent drop than the Rs 133.46 crore reported in the trailing quarter (Q1-2015).

    The Company posted a 76 per cent growth in its advertising revenue to Rs 93.14 crore (71 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015 as compared to Rs 52.92 crore in Q2-2014 and 16 per cent rise from the Rs 80.1 crore in Q1-2015. The ad revenue from existing channels reported a 42 per cent rise at Rs 68.58 crore versus Rs 48.28 crore in the corresponding quarter last year while the ad revenue from new channels posted a 62 per cent fall at Rs 2.52 crore as compared to Rs 6.64 crore in Q2-2014.

    The subscription revenue for the company grew by 12.8 per cent to Rs 28.07 crore in the current quarter versus Rs 24.90 crore in Q2-2014. The subscription revenue from the existing channels at Rs 24.62 crore was 1.1 per cent less than the Rs 24.90 crore in Q2-2014.

    The media corporation posted a Rs 12.8 crore loss in the current quarter as compared to Rs 14.57 crore loss in Q1-2015 and a profit of Rs 4.27 crore in the corresponding quarter last year (Q2-2014).

    Zee Media posts revenue from two segments: print and television.

    For television business, the company reported total revenue of Rs 98.56 crore, 51 per cent less than the Rs 202.43 crore in Q2-2014 and 5 per cent less than Rs 103.87 crore in Q1-2015.

    While for the print business, it posted total revenue of Rs 32.59 crore for Q2-2015 which was 47.5 per cent below the Rs 62.18 crore reported in Q2-2014 and 10 per cent more than Rs 29.59 crore, the total revenue in Q1-2015.

    The total expenditure for the company in Q2-2015 rose 65.5 per cent at Rs 125 crore from Rs 75.54 crore. The total expenditure for the television segment was reported at Rs 88.05 crore, while for the print segment it was at Rs 36.95 crore in Q2-2015. The total expense for the existing channels is 11.2 per cent at Rs 75.41 crore in Q2-2015 from Rs 67.84 crore in Q2-2014 while for the new channels; the expenditure has been reported at Rs 12.65 crore in Q2-2015, 64.2 per cent higher than the Rs 7.7 crore in Q2-2014.

    The cost of goods and operations for the current quarter increased 70.6 per cent at Rs 29.02 crore (23.2 per cent of TIO) versus Rs 17.01 crore (22.5 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014.

    The employee cost for the quarter was reported at Rs 41.67 crore (33.3 per cent of TIO), 68.97 per cent more than the Rs 24.66 crore (32.6 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014.

    The company posted its other expenses at Rs 54.31 crore (43.5 per cent of TIO) which was 69.34 per cent per cent more than the Rs 33.87 crore (44.9 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014.

    The EBITDA for the company fell 18.2 per cent at Rs 6.12 crore in Q2-2015 versus Rs 7.48 crore in Q2-2014. The EBITDA for the existing channels have been reported at Rs 20.62 crore. For the new channels EBITDA is at a loss of Rs 10.13 crore in the current quarter versus a loss of Rs 3.06 crore in Q2-2014. The EBITDA for the existing channels is up by 95.6 per cent as compared to Rs 10.54 crore in Q2-2014.

    Speaking about the earnings for the current quarter, ZMCL non-executive chairman Subhash Chandra said, “Even as GDP growth in the second quarter is likely to be lower than that in the first quarter of this financial year, domestic industry is likely to witness improved margins which help in developing the investment climate in the country. With India emerging as the only country in the BRICS block to pick up a growth momentum, foreign investors are expected to inject the much needed funds into the system. The honorable Prime Minister’s recent visit to Japan and the US are also likely to augment the same. The mood of public as well as business confidence has improved in general. Providing further buoyancy to the economy is the new hope on the horizon that inflation may finally start softening on the back of steady fall in international crude oil prices and easing of food inflation in the second quarter. A vibrant economy, helped by government’s policy push, will benefit the media and entertainment industry in the mid to long run.”

    The company reached 146.7 million viewers across India and continues to be the largest news network riding on the strength of its two national, eight regional news channels, DNA newspaper and its digital platforms – zeenews.com, dnaindia.com, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, the press release stated.

     

      Click here for Financial Statement