ITV

Tag: Endemol India

  • Colors to launch ‘Bigg Boss Halla Bol’ series

    Colors to launch ‘Bigg Boss Halla Bol’ series

    MUMBAI: After engaging viewers for 15 weeks, Bigg Boss season eight is ready to take the quotient of entertainment a notch higher.  Come 4 January, it is set to launch Bigg Boss Halla Bol which will not only include the five champions, but also open doors to five challengers namely Rahul Mahajan, Sambhavna Seth, Ajaz Khan, Mahek Chahal and one more from the previous Bigg Boss seasons.

    As the new leg of the game kicks-off, the series will welcome Bigg Boss enthusiast Farah Khan as the host of the show. Following a successful association, the channel has roped in Snapdeal.com as the presenting sponsor for Bigg Boss Halla Bol. It will air everyday at 9pm on the channel.

    According to Colors CEO Raj Nayak, be it in terms of ratings or in terms of entertainment, season eight has lived up to its promise of having a mast safar with zabardast twists.
    “This New Year we bring the Bigg Boss buffs another engrossing series packed with newer twists and interesting characters. This show is our New Year gift to all our Bigg Boss fans. Further, we are happy to announce that we have roped in Snapdeal.com as the presenting sponsor for Bigg Boss Halla Bol following the stupendous response that both – the show and the brand – have received for the eighth season of the show.”

    Confirming her participation, Farah Khan said: “I have loved watching Bigg Boss and enjoy everything about it. The series is unlike anything that regular viewers of the show could have ever perceived. Salman Khan has been truly entertaining as a host with his affable style and quick wit. I am looking forward to building a unique experience for the viewers through this venture and hope they enjoy every bit of it.”

    The special series will have a mix of 10 enigmatic contestants and will bring entertainment to the forefront as competitiveness reaches an all-time high which will make their stay in the Bigg Boss house tougher than ever before. The champions and challengers will engage in a battle of sorts as they strive to stay inside the house and move closer to the grand finale where a contestant from either party could claim the spot of the winner of the show. The effervescent Farah Khan will be the guiding light for the champions and challengers while questioning their actions and decisions as the show races to the end.    

     

  • Endemol’s ‘Lagori’ wins the viewer’s choice award for ‘best serial of the year’

    Endemol’s ‘Lagori’ wins the viewer’s choice award for ‘best serial of the year’

    MUMBAI:  Endemol India produced Lagori …Maitri Returns which airs on Star Pravah every Monday to Friday at 9pm, has been named the Best Serial of the year at the Viewer’s choice MMW (marathimovieworld.com) Gaurav awards.  Popular actress Anuja Sathe-Gokhale who reprises the role of Urmila was awarded the Best Actress award in the viewer’s choice television category.

    Lagori Maitri Return, the fun filled emotional roller coaster ride of friends Mukta, Poorva, Rujuta, Urmila and Dhanashree has received immense love and support from fans. The story line with the twists and truths of their life and friendship in the Marathi daily soap which started in February 2014, has already struck the right cord with its audiences andrecently also completed 250 episodes on Star Pravaah
    Commenting on the recent awards and the completion of the 250th episode of Lagori Maitri Returns, Abhishek Rege, COO – Television, Endemol India, said “Lagori Maitri Returns has touched a chord with the audiences especially a younger demographic who identify with the story and the characters. The serial through these 250 episodes has weaved a touching tale of friendship and bonds which has left a lasting impression on the minds of the viewers. This love has been vindicated with the show receiving the Viewer’s Choice MMW award.”
     
    Anand Chavan Marathi Business Head, Endemol India, added “The recognition and the response the show is receiving is very gratifying. The storyline resonates with the audiences own life experiences, and further lends to the popularity of the show.  We hope that with continuing support from Star Pravah team and the cast and crew, the show continues reaching new highs.”
     
    Stay tuned to the most popular girl gang on television On Star Pravah from Monday to Saturday – Prime Time 9 PM.

     

  • Endemol India gets Ashok Vidyasagar as senior VP for south

    Endemol India gets Ashok Vidyasagar as senior VP for south

    MUMBAI: Endemol India is getting an expert hand to lead operations of the entire south India business in new senior vice president Ashok Vidyasagar. His mandate will be to focus on scripted business opportunities as well as exploit the non scripted catalog of Endemol in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

     

    Vidyasagar will be based out of Chennai and report to Endemol India COO (Television) Abhishek Rege. He has had nearly five years of experience in the media and entertainment industry and TV programming.

     

    Prior to this he was with Big Synergy Media as business director for south operations, Bates 141 as senior VP and general manager, Enfatico as country lead, group business director at DDB and account director at HTA Bangalore and JWT.

     

    Speaking on his appointment Rege said, “Regional markets, especially the southern markets, are fast-growing verticals for Endemol India.  We have always been focused on building regional franchises of our global shows especially in the south. In the past too we have seen great success with Deal or No Deal in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam and now most recently Bigg Boss Kannada has been a huge hit.  With Ashok leading the southern market, we hope to further expand and build more such ventures. We welcome him to the Endemol India team and look forward to benefiting from his talent and experience.”

     

    Ashok has a commerce background with a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration with additional studies completed under the Executive Education from IIM, Bangalore on Integrated Marketing Communications.

     

    “I am excited about my new role at Endemol India.  Endemol India, is one of India’s largest TV content companies with presence in television, film and digital content, and has in a short time, taken great strides in the south market most recently with the success of Bigg Boss in Kannada. I look forward to building its business down south and establishing new ventures while growing and driving forward existing business. Branded content and branded engagement in TV is huge business and other new media like digital, YouTube, cinema and mobile make interesting avenues for expanding the scope of content strategy and business. I would like to leverage my brand experience and work on content strategies for brands and channels in the south of India which is an exciting set of four markets. With the increasing percentage of ad spends of national brands in south, the possibilities are huge for branded engagement and content. Value and volume of new content in south India have shown impressive growth year on year. Hence, brands and channels are ready to make high investments for content resulting better ROI for them and therein lies the business opportunity for content,” said  Vidyasagar.

  • Suvarna sets high hopes with Bigg Boss Kannada 2

    Suvarna sets high hopes with Bigg Boss Kannada 2

    BENGALURU: A few weeks ago, Indiantelevision.com had reported that Star Network’s Kannada general entertainment channel (GEC) Suvarna has bagged the rights of the second season of Bigg Boss Kannada (BBK) from ETV Kannada.

     

    And the channel is all set to start airing the 100 episode daily show starting 29 June hosted by Kannada actor Sudeep again.

     

    To keep the mystery alive, Suvarna claims that the names of the 14 contestants have been kept under wraps with the winner taking home a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh. Suvarna business head Anup Chandrasekharan says, “We have always brought in different and exciting content for our audience and we are delighted to bring to your screens yet another thrilling series. Bigg Boss Kannada promises to be an electrifying season in its second innings.”

     

    A key differentiator between the Kannada and Hindi editions is the set at Lonavala which is simpler and has fewer cameras (35 maximum).  

     

    Produced by Endemol India, BBK 2 is an hour long episode to be aired between 8 to 9 pm will see a three hour long premiere, inform sources at the channel.

     

    Endemol India COO Abhishek Rege adds, “Bigg Boss has captured the attention of Indian audiences all over! With a legacy of record breaking TRPs it has truly gained momentum on both national and regional television with the continuing success Bigg Boss Hindi and fantastic response received by Bigg Boss Kannada season 1.”

     

    The channel has roped in OLX.in as the title sponsor, CERA as the powered by sponsor, Dollar Bigg Boss as associate sponsor and many more are lined up. The channel says that it is selling ad spots at a 200 per cent premium. Chandrasekharan says that he is looking at a 70-30 (spot-buying) split, with 70 per cent advertisers and sponsors already booked.

     

    A 360 degree marketing plan has been designed for BBK 2, for which it has earmarked around Rs 8 crore. This includes 150 hoardings across Karnataka and on 50 bus shelters in Bengaluru, 100 branded buses and ad spots on three radio stations. It has also planned for print ads in all publications on the launch day as well as magazine. Other outdoor and BTL activities include multiplex activity at PVR and Inox, mall branding in Bengaluru, door to door activity and mobile van activity.

     

    The channel is promoting the programme heavily on the digital platform through its website and social networking sites. It also intends to have a sub domain for BBK. The channel will dedicate 70 per cent of its promo time on this show during the launch phase, as well as run spots on its sister channel, Suvarna Plus.

     

    Industry sources peg the production cost of the show at about Rs 16 crore to Rs 17 crore across the 100 episodes, with the total cost pegged at around Rs 30 crore to Rs 35 crore. “There is no such thing as inflation. This season will cost about the same as last season to produce the show,” reveals the source. About 800 technicians would be working in shifts behind the scenes.

     

    While Chandrasekharan claims non disclosure agreement (NDA) reasons for not disclosing the amount that the channel is paying for retaining host Sudeep, industry sources put the amount at between Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2.5 crore.

     

     “Sudeep was the obvious choice for season 2 as well. If we had brought in someone else, it would be like re-inventing the wheel. So what if the show has switched channels?” says a source at Endemol India.

     

    Though the show did bring in ratings numbers for ETV Kannada during in season one, it did not rake in the money that was expected reveals an industry source. “This was probably the reason that the Star Network could take the show away from Viacom18,” explains the source.

  • Endemol India’s ‘Lagori Maitri Returns’ completes 100 episodes

    Endemol India’s ‘Lagori Maitri Returns’ completes 100 episodes

    MUMBAI: Endemol India produced Lagori Maitri Returns completes 100 episodes on Star Pravaah with an explosive episode. The fun filled emotional roller coaster ride of friends Mukta, Poorva, Rujuta, Urmila and Dhanashree has received immense love and support from fans. The story line with the twists and truths of their life and friendship in the Marathi daily soap which started in February 2014, has already struck the right cord with its audiences.

     

    On completing the journey of 100 episodes successfully; the entire team of the show celebrated this happy moment by cutting a cake while the cast and crew shared and relived some of the fun moments and experiences they have had so far with the show.

     

    Commenting on the completion of the 100th episode of Lagori Maitri Returns, Abhishek Rege, COO – Television, Endemol India, said “Lagori Maitri Returns is a touching tale about the journey of friendship that viewers identify with. The storyline resonates with the audiences own life experiences, and further lends to the popularity of the show. With the completion of 100 episodes, the show has reached a new high. With the support from Star Pravah, the team behind the show, has done a super job. Here’s looking forward to many more.”

     

    Stay tuned to the most popular girl gang on television On Star Pravah from Monday to Saturday – Prime Time 9 PM.

  • Sony’s ‘Encounter’ with Manoj Bajpayee

    Sony’s ‘Encounter’ with Manoj Bajpayee

    MUMBAI: For Endemol India that has established itself as a leader in the reality TV space and has expanded into other strands of content, it has been a roller coaster ride.

    Although crime shows on TV are common with almost every channel, but the way Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has accepted this genre, nobody has, believe the experts of the industry.

    Crime always sells and it is this genre that has worked for the channel which is currently languishing among the bottom three GECs, according to the weekly TAM TV ratings.

    CID and Crime Patrol has been airing for years and it won’t be wrong to say that the shows belong to the crime space.  To get back its long lost position in the ratings chart, SET is set to launch Encounter on 11 April. Produced by Endemol India, the show will be hosted by Manoj Bajpayee.

    Encounter, as the name suggests, is an account of the dangerous encounters between cops and gangsters. It will bring alive the stories behind the famous encounters of the police and the underworld in India starting from the early nineties. Inspired by real-life incidents, the show aims at redefining the proverbial action series on television.

    The promos of the show that is to air 36 episodes have already hit the television screens and will be telecast every Friday to Sunday at 9 pm. It will replace the channel’s dance reality property Boogie Woogie that is shown on Saturday and Sunday while it will also take away a day’s telecast of Nandini (aired at 9 pm) and Jee Le Zara (aired at 9.30 pm) that airs on Fridays. Sources indicate that the latter will be shutting its shop very soon due to poor ratings.

    Gaurav Seth

    SET senior vice president, head-marketing Gaurav Seth believes that crime shows are the channel’s strength. “There are a lot of crime shows on television but we believe that such shows are our strength. People talk to us in big numbers, watch the crime genre and believe that we do it well. Whether its CID or Crime Patrol, these are the shows which have cult following over a period of time because people think that this is something Sony does best. We want to continue that trend.”

    Spelling out the reason of getting Bajpayee on board Seth avers, “He is going to play a very interesting role of narrating the stories from the inside. He has got most implacable credentials when it comes to this genre and has also played humorous characters that have actually stood out in Indian cinema.”

    SET has rolled out an aggressive marketing campaign for this show. There will be more than 20-25 channels telecasting the promos of Encounter. For the channel that has already bought 8,000 spots, television is going to play a lead medium for communication. The promotional TVC featuring Bajpayee will also be promoted on other mediums like radio, print, digital media, games and apps.

    Ajay Bhalwankar, who has recently joined SET as its chief creative director, believes that the show is going to be a blockbuster. He reveals: “It is going to be very different show and not on the lines of Crime Patrol as people are comparing it with. These are all different cop stories and are not wholly focused on the criminals. You will find a lot of difference from other crime properties which are airing on television today.”

    Ajay Bhalwankar

    A source closely connected with Endemol revealed that the planning for the show started three months ago. “When we started off, we wanted to do a real encounter series, real cases with real people. But it was just not possible. It also needed to have a fictional twist because getting the police on-board was a difficult task. So we decided to make it a fiction series because the channel believes in crime-related shows and that is its audience.”

    The same source further goes on to add: “We shot a small pilot with an actual encounter specialist A Khan and the channel liked the concept so much that they immediately picked it up. The pilot would be of one episode.”

    Moreover, compared to Sony’s other crime properties like CID and Crime Patrol, the production cost of Encounter is much higher per episode. As of now three episodes have been canned and are ready to go on-air.

    Media professionals feel that the channel should concentrate more on its line-up of fiction rather than giving viewers weekend dose of entertainment. “The show is going to compete with one of the best shows other channels have in that time slot. Since Sony already has strong crime properties that are doing well for them, there was no need to create another one. They should come up with innovative content for its daily soaps which are struggling to find its place in the ratings chart,” reasons a prominent media planner who did not wish to be named.

    Encounter is going to compete with Pavitra Rishta (Fri) and DID Lil Masters (Sat-Sun) on Zee TV, Beintehaa (Fri) and Khatron Ke Khiladi five (Sat-Sun) on Colors, Diya Aur Baati Hum on Star Plus (Fri-Sat) and Mad In India (Sun) and Chidiya Ghar on Sab.

    Seth is not worried about the competition. “We are extremely hyper and aggressive about everything that we are doing. Since it’s a very competitive slot, we have to believe in our content. And to ensure that people latch on to this content, we have a very interesting promotional campaign going on and we are very excited about it,” he signs off.

  • Endemol India and Lionsgate collaborate on a project

    Endemol India and Lionsgate collaborate on a project

    MUMBAI: There have been many instances in the past where big production houses collaborated to create cinematic brilliance on the big screen. Now, news comes that Lionsgate has made its way to Indian shores for the first time.

     

    One of the leading global entertainment conglomerate, and Endemol India, operating under the banner ‘Eyedentity Motion Pictures,’ will co-produce the sports drama Warrior in Hindi for the Indian subcontinent.

     

    Warrior (2011), inspired by Lionsgate’s critically-acclaimed North American release of the same name, will be the first film jointly produced by the two companies in India.

     

    “We have got a prestigious title that a lot of people have been vying to get into the country, but we have beaten the competition to it. We have isolated a few other titles as well, but currently we are focused on this acquisition,” said Endemol India CEO Deepak Dhar. “Action-filled and emotionally powerful with themes of forgiveness and the enduring bonds of family, Warrior will be a quality film made with top-of-the-line production values that we believe will strike a responsive chord with Indian audiences.”

     

    The partnership was negotiated by Rohit Tiwari at Morris St. Advisors, Lionsgate’s agents in India.

     

    Commenting on the association with Endemol India, Lionsgate president of worldwide television & digital distribution Jim Packer said, “Lionsgate is committed to identifying opportunities to produce and deliver motion pictures, television programming and other premium content to one of the largest and fastest-growing markets in the world.”

     

    Inspired by the American film of the same name, Warrior tells the story of two estranged brothers and deals with their struggling relationship with each other and their father. The film will be adapted for Indian audiences and re-written for Indian tastes. Its focus on contact sport will be integral to the storyline and will position Warrior as one of the few sports dramas made in India.

     

    Lionsgate COO of international distribution Andrew Kramer added, “Warrior is the kind of locally-produced property based on timeless themes that we expect to resonate with mainstream commercial audiences in India, and our partnership with Endemol’s Eyedentity Motion Pictures will bring valuable local expertise to our venture.”

     

    Lionsgate is a global entertainment company whose roster of mainstream commercial releases includes The Hunger Games and Twilight franchises which have grossed nearly $5 billion combined at the worldwide box office.

     

    Eyedentity Motion Pictures and Lionsgate are currently finalising the cast for the film which is scheduled to go into production in December 2014.

     

    “We are looking for established actors to reprise the role of the two brothers and the role of the father, which has been made iconic in the film,” adds Dhar.

     

    Endemol India has also partnered with Fox Star Studios for its ‘emotional thriller’, Traffic in the recent past. It marks the foray of Endemol into Hindi film industry as its first venture. Traffic is the Hindi adaptation of the critically acclaimed Malayalam blockbuster of the same name and will release in April 2014. The movie showcases a high voltage drama and a battle against time when stakes run high and life is in danger. The film stars Manoj Bajpai and Jimmy Shergill in the lead roles along with Bengali actor Prosenjit, Parambrata (of Kaahani fame), Divya Dutta, Kitu Gidwani and Sachin Khedekar. It will be helmed by the national award winning film maker Rajesh Pillai and adapted screenplay by Suresh Nair; with music by Mithoon.

     

    Eyedentity Motion Pictures (the film arm of Endemol India) marks its film debut in the southern market with the bilingual film (Tamil and Telugu) Anaamika (adaptation of Kahaani) in association with Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Moving Pictures. South actress Nayantara depicts a woman’s search for her missing husband that brings her from US to Hyderabad and is aptly supported by actors Vaibhav Reddy and Pasupathy.

     

    The film is directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Sekhar Kammula which is slated for release in April, 2014. Screenplay adapted by Sekhar Kammula and Yandamoori Veerendranath, music and background score composed by National Award winning music director M.M Keervani.

     

    With such a busy slate and more movies in the pipeline, Endemol India’s Eyedentity Motion Pictures looks set to become a production house to reckon with in the coming years.

  • Channel V celebrates the real Heroes

    Channel V celebrates the real Heroes

    MUMBAI: Come February 23rd and new heroes will be born. Channel V, the country’s number one youth GEC, is coming up with a new show that shares stories of sexual assault and in the process instills fear in the accused and the feeling of strength in the victims. Simply called Heroes, the new show produced by Endemol India, not only makes the youth aware of the hazards in the society but also shows means and methods to bolster themselves and combat such situations.

     

    Heroes is a re-enacted drama series based on the incidents of sexual assault which happens in various places such as hospitals, offices, schools and colleges and happens to people of different social strata, different gender and different age. The show will contain narration by the victims and the actual incidents faced by them will be recreated in the same episode.

     

    Each 60-minute story will bring one sexual assault story to light from the point of view of the victims. From the time when they were being harassed to that threshold moment when they could not take it anymore and fought back. These stories will celebrate the fearlessness of the people fighting against the many social institutions trying to bring them down. Finally what will emerge are the real Heroes of our society, of our country.

     

    Says Prem Kamath, EVP & GM-Channel V, “The new motto of our channel has been ‘V Correct Hai’ and what can be more correct than a show like Heroes. Sexual assault happens in our society every day in some form and a show like this will make people more cautious and also empower them against all the forces at play. The show reiterates our belief in the philosophy that the abuse will stop when the silence does.

     

    On creating a format that deals with real life issues such as sexual harassment, Deepak Dhar, Director and CEO, Endemol India says, “We are determined to create a show for the audiences and get them to take notice of this unspoken yet massive plague like issue which women in India face on a daily basis. The format competently tackles the behavior and addresses the education barrier which is lacking. ‘HEROES’ is also an ode to the women whom have shown the courage to walk out of such thorny affairs with their head held high.”

     

    Starting 23rd Feb, 2014 watch Heroes, every Sunday at 7pm only on Channel V.

  • Endemol India’s ‘Lagori – Maitri Returns’ captures women bonding

    Endemol India’s ‘Lagori – Maitri Returns’ captures women bonding

    MUMBAI: If the boys are ruling the celluloid with the bromance movies, the bonding of girls is set to rule the small screen. An inspiring tale of girls’ bonding will begin on Star Pravah from 3 February, Monday to Saturday at 9 pm. Lagori Maitri Returns, a show produced by Endemol India captures the story of four friends – Mukta, Poorva, Rujuta, Urmila and Dhanashree.

     

    Lagori is the journey of Dhanashree, and her four friends who are an integral part of her life all through school and college, but life takes its course and the four friends are separated due to circumstances and lose touch with each other and more importantly a friendship that defined them.

     

    The show is a fun filled emotional roller coaster ride of friends, a gang of girls, who reunite after eight years at a time when each of the girls, now women, feel the need for friendship to return in their lives. They meet again only to discover that the marriage, circumstances, have changed each of their personalities drastically. However, their lives get entangled once again as they reacquaint themselves.

     

    Endemol India COO – Television Abhishek Rege, says, “The show is a touching tale of an inseparable gang of girls who reunite after parting ways due to circumstances. This show by Endemol is sure to touch a cord with all women who have lost touch with their friends post marriage and whom they hope to catch up with once again.”

  • Endemol India partners with Fox Star Studios on a movie

    Endemol India partners with Fox Star Studios on a movie

    MUMBAI: Endemol India has collaborated with Fox Star Studios for an emotional thriller, Traffic. This marks the foray of Endemol into the Hindi film industry and will be produced under the banner “Eyedentity Motion Pictures” – the film arm of Endemol India.

     

    Traffic, the Hindi adaptation of the critically acclaimed Malayalam blockbuster will release on 7 March, 2014. Based on a true life incident the film marks the coming together of an ensemble cast of Manoj Bajpai and Jimmy Shergill in the lead roles along with Bengali superstar Prosenjit, Parambrata (of Kaahani fame), Divya Dutta, Kitu Gidwani and Sachin Khedekar playing pivotal roles. The film will also see the debut of talented young actor Amol Parasher and Vishal Singh in critical roles.

     

    Endemol India MD and CEO Deepak Dhar said, “With Traffic, Endemol enters the Hindi film sphere and we are fortunate to have partnered with Fox Star Studios for such an incredible script that involves a diverse mix of characters caught in an unlikely situation. Brought to life by a brilliant screenplay that pits together all the characters in a race against time, the incredible casting is bound to keep the audiences hooked till the end.”

     

    Directed by national award winning film maker Rajesh Pillai, who also directed the original in Malayalam, the movie showcases a high voltage drama and a battle against time when stakes run high and life is in danger. What sets Traffic apart from other films is the fact that as an emotional thriller, it will also introduce the audiences to an altogether new genre of entertainment.

     

    Traffic has been adapted in Hindi by Suresh Nair with music by Mithoon.

     

    Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh added, “We are excited to have partnered with Endemol India as they debut in the Indian film industry. Traffic comes with tremendous credentials – National award winning director plus commercial & critical success in Malayalam – it promises to be an emotionally thrilling experience! At Fox Star Studios, our endeavour has been to support path breaking entertaining cinema. We believe in the story of Traffic and that it must be told to a wide audience. Audiences today are seeking new and distinctive content and we continue to strive to deliver films that capture the imagination. The film is the first up on our slate for 2014 that will feature mega productions, massy entertainers and clutter breaking films.”