ITV

Tag: elections 2014

  • India TV eyes 35 per cent revenue increase in this election year

    India TV eyes 35 per cent revenue increase in this election year

    MUMBAI: With the Election Commission having announced the election schedule, the unfolding political drama has certainly picked up momentum. News channels were already in the fray but will now devote even more air time to election programming in the coming weeks.

      

    On its part, India TV – which recently underwent a makeover to be hailed as a more serious news channel – will start its election programming today, using this as an opportunity to showcase its change in focus. “The commitment was to set new benchmarks in the news presentation. We have already taken leaps in that direction and elections are a direct opportunity for us to showcase the differentiation,” says India TV MD and CEO Ritu Dhawan.

     

    The channel will kick-off its full-fledged version of electioneering next week under the title, ‘Faisla Kursi Ka’. A special election series called Aap Ki Adalat mein Faisla Kursi Ka will feature as part of India TV’s most popular show Aap Ki Adalat with India TV chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma. The regular series will continue alongside.

     

    The channel’s flagship show Aaj Ki Baat Rajat Sharma Ke Saath has already tilted towards elections while newer shows like Yeh Public Sab Janti Hai, Delhi-Darbar, Sitare Zameen Par and Vansh are in the pipeline. “With a firm belief that content which is unlike our competition, not only have we made substantial investment for the same but we have also ensured that our content does not suffer from predictability,” says Dhawan.

     

    Actor Om Puri will host Vansh while the other shows will be anchored by celebrities including Dalip Tahil, Piyush Mishra and Meghna Malik.

     

    According to Dhawan, the aam aadmi’s desire for a change in governance has resulted in a nearly 17 per cent increase in viewership in the news genre, with India TV experiencing an almost 20 per cent increase.

     

    With Hero Motorcorp as presenting sponsor, Shakti Pumps as powered-by sponsor, and many more advertisers and sponsors the likes of Tata Motors, Birla Cement, Ranbaxy, Rupa Hosiery and Emami already on board the channel during election time, India TV is expecting 20 to 35 per cent of additional revenues in this election year, as compared to the earlier non-election one.

     

    “In total, we expect 20 to 35 per cent of additional revenues on a fairly high year-on-year base of a non-election year. That also qualifies as we have made reasonable investments in the content part,” says Dhawan. Sources estimate that the channel is looking at making nearly Rs 180 crore this year.

     

    Coming to the what and how, India TV’s news gathering team will pan across the country’s key constituencies on polling days, complemented by a team of experts in the studio.

     

    “It would not be an exaggeration to say that we will most definitely be omnipresent through our wide network of reporters, stringers and other strategic partners. We have made large investments to further strengthen our news gathering,” signs off Dhawan.

  • IBN7 revamps primetime with two mega shows as polls come closer

    IBN7 revamps primetime with two mega shows as polls come closer

    NEW DELHI: With the general elections round the corner, IBN7 is revamping its primetime programming with the introduction of two brand new shows with veteran journalists Vinod Dua and Sanjay Pugalia.

     

    The new programming will mark the return of Vinod Dua in a special election show Vinod Dua Ka Prashnkaal, which will be the first fully interactive prime-time election show on any Hindi news platform. The host will give a platform to viewers to express themselves freely and participate in the election discussions.

     

    The channel will put out a “Topic of the Day” for a fixed time during the day, inviting viewers to call in with their views and questions. Questions would also be taken from Twitter, Facebook and the channel’s website – IBNKhabar. Additionally, the channel will also integrate a distinct video element called “Open Mike” which will allow on-camera views and questions on the day’s topic. Vinod Dua Ka Prashnkaal will air every Monday to Thursday at 8 pm.

     

    Another new prime time show, India 9 Baje, will go on air from 18 February every Monday to Friday at 9 pm, and will see Sanjay Pugalia do a round-up of the day’s major news stories. The show will follow a flexible format, primarily consisting of one big debate along with other stories of impact from the worlds of politics, sports, business, international and entertainment news. Sanjay Pugalia with his experience, credibility and vast knowledge of politics as well as political economy, will give viewers a rare combination of the two in his delivery of news.  

     

    Speaking on IBN7’s new prime-time line up, CNN-IBN and IBN7 MD Vinay Tewari said, “Elections are a complex, engaging and diverse event. It needs solid professionals who understand the complexities, who can simplify it for our audience and who believe in clarity over noise and sensation. We have brought in two of India’s leading journalists to take our primetime programming to the next level and who symbolise our beliefs about news. Vinod Dua, with his experience and unique style, is back to give viewers his take on the elections and engage them in our daily discourse while Sanjay Pugalia, whose understanding of politics and political economy is unparalleled, will debate and encapsulate the day’s major news on India 9 Baje.”

     

    IBN Network Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “We are looking at possibly the most crucial general elections in Indian history. And IBN7 is set to launch two new shows anchored by two of the most influential and experienced journalists in the industry. Amidst the furore of elections, our new prime time line-up aims to help our viewers understand the socio-political scenario better and enable them to make informed decisions. We believe that these shows will add immense value to our programming and enable our network to set the industry standard for years to come.”