ITV

Tag: FremantleMedia India

  • Keshet Asia establishes office in India, appoints Arpit Agarwal & Mihir Karlekar

    MUMBAI: Keshet Asia, the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of Keshet International (KI), has expanded its footprint in India with two major hires and establishing an office in Mumbai.

    Arpit Agarwal will lead the Indian operation on the ground as director, India and SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) reporting to Gary Pudney, head of Asia. Mihir Karlekar joins Agarwal as the senior sales manager, India and SAARC.

    Together, they will seek to increase the volume of KI’s scripted and non-scripted formats being adapted for the Indian audience, and uncover local IP for international distribution. They will also co-develop with Indian creators and begin to lay the foundations for an eventual local production business.

    The Indian operation has been established following the launch of two flagship KI properties in the country; the epic 110-episode adaptation of ‘Prisoners of War’ (Bandi Yuddh Ke) which aired on Star Plus and was the no.1 trending topic on Twitter during its premiere; and the country’s first-ever live voting talent show ‘Rising Star’ which is airing on Viacom18’s Colors, and peaked with a rating of 2.4 in prime time. With live voting powered by the Screenz Platform, the Color’s app garnered 3.6 million downloads at launch, and is steadily rising as the format sets the bar for innovation in TV engagement.

    Pudney said, “India is a vibrant market in which we see huge potential. The success of ‘Prisoners of War’ and ‘Rising Star’ has demonstrated our catalogue’s ability to resonate with local viewers, but as well as selling more content into the region, we are equally keen to begin producing and acquiring IP. With Arpit and Mihir on board, we feel we have the right people in place to capitalise on our success and drive the business forward.”

    Agarwal said, “Keshet International has made rapid inroads into the Indian market in the last year and I’m hugely excited at the prospect of further expanding its footprint in the SAARC region – home to over a billion eager TV viewers.”

    With more than 20 years’ experience, Agarwal joins Keshet Asia from Singaporean distribution and production company Bomanbridge Media where he was the director of business development & sales across south Asia and licensed more than 450 hours of finished tape and formats in the region. Prior to Bomanbridge Media, Agarwal was the business head at general entertainment channel Sahara One where he commissioned two major prime-time drama series. Agarwal also headed operations at FremantleMedia India, and was an intrinsic part of the launch of The X Factor India, and the roll-out of Indian Idol V and India’s Got Talent III among others.

    Karlekar joins Keshet Asia from consumer electronics conglomerate LeEco where he was the senior manager – content business development and strategic alliances, a role which saw him closing partnership deals with leading domestic and international OTT platforms. Prior to this he was the commercial manager, acquisitions at Zee Entertainment, where he managed all linear/non-linear content acquisition for three OTT platforms, FTA and niche channel clusters and format licensing for GECs, before stepping up to head of commercial at Zee TV’s digital convergence arm.

  • Colors to showcase darkest stories through ‘Code Red’

    Colors to showcase darkest stories through ‘Code Red’

    MUMBAI: After a year of successful non-fiction properties in 2014, Colors is back with some more action in 2015.

     

    Taking the premise of showcasing meaningful entertainment and shows that are a reflection of our society, the channel is all set to launch a new show titled Code Red, which is a beacon of hope addressing issues of human frailty. It will depict the inner conflict a human being goes through when faced with a crisis of conscience.

     
    Each week, six episodes featuring stories based on various human frailties, will be presented through three prominent themes under the brand umbrella of Code Red.

     

    1) ‘Umeed’ – focusing on stories who are on the verge of ending their lives.

    2) ‘Awaaz’ – focusing on violence against women and children.

    3) ‘Chakravyuh’ – focusing on various forms of entrapment – physical and psychological.

     

    Each theme will be brought to life by a different production house and the stories will be presented by Sakshi Tanwar who will embody the inner voice and be the voice of reason. The episodes will be produced by FremantleMedia India, Sun Shine Rise Productions and Optimystix India.

     

    Actors Manish Chaudhari, in the role of an NGO representative, and Yash Sinha, as a crime reporter, will take the viewers through various instances where circumstances and conditions pushed a person to the wall. The series will attempt, not only to showcase these stories but to make people believe that there is hope, only if they choose to break the silence.

     

    Colors CEO Raj Nayak believes that it’s not just a show but a movement to get people to believe that hope can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one reaches out and breaks the silence. “At Colors, we have always emphasised on creating shows that are meaningful and which can bring about some kind of a conceivable change in the society. With Code Red, we are going a step further by showcasing stories of human frailties and urging people to break their silence on issues that are disturbing them and the people around them. In order to drive home this message, it gives me immense pleasure to announce that we have a prominent face from the world of TV – Sakshi Tanwar – who I believe has the right blend of empathy and sensitivity that is required for a show such as Code Red. I hope we are able to make a positive difference to peoples’ lives through this humble effort of ours,” Nayak said.

     

    Colors programming head Manisha Sharma added, “This is a genre on television that needs to be explored a lot more where stories inspired by real instances are mounted to create a show relatable to audiences. As human beings we all face dilemmas in life while choosing between right and wrong. Code Red is a show that explores these dilemmas and gives voice to the conscience of the people facing them. It’s a journey through their mind and their decisions and how their choices affect their lives. I hope our audiences find the show and these stories riveting.”

     

    The show will air from 19 January every Monday to Saturday at 10.30 pm.

     

  • CNBC TV18 to exclusively air CEO’s Got Talent

    CNBC TV18 to exclusively air CEO’s Got Talent

    MUMBAI: The month of March has seen a unique property, CEO’s Got Talent emerge under the internationally acclaimed Got Talent franchise, bringing together mavericks of the corporate and entertainment industry on a common platform at a plush hotel in suburban Mumbai. Organized by FremantleMedia India, for the benefit of Genesis Foundation, the gala event witnessed twelve CEOs as they come in the spotlight while showcasing their creative and varied talents. Viewers will be able to get an exclusive glimpse into the fun-fun-filled evening on CNBC TV18 on Saturday, 29th March 2014 at 4:30 PM and Sunday, 30th March 2014 at 5:30 PM.

     

    CEO’s Got Talent was a unique property created by FremantleMedia India. The on-ground event comprised of several acts ranging from classical singing, jive dance moves to playing musical instruments and stand-up comedy. The event was filled with energy and vigor as the top management of India Inc. came together in support of Genesis Foundation. These acts were judged by a distinguished panel of jury members including renowned actor Raveena Tandon, celebrated director-producer Mahesh Bhatt and Raj Nayak, CEO – COLORS.

     

    Upon being declared the winner of CEO’s Got Talent, Atul Khatri, CEO of Kaytek Computer Services Pvt. Ltd. said, “Owing to our hectic routines, we often find it difficult to pursue our passions. CEO’s Got Talent has given us the experience that has been truly enriching and a welcome break from our busy schedules. This feels extremely special because we have come out of the board rooms to showcase our talent and give back to the society by supporting Genesis Foundation.”

     

    Talking about the event, Anupama Mandloi, Managing Director – FremantleMedia India said, “We were very excited to launch such a unique initiative adapted from our global ‘Got Talent’ Franchise.  We  wish to reach out to the core business leaders of the country with CNBC TV18 as our broadcast partner. This formed a great platform for senior management of the country to showcase their talent outside the corporate board rooms!”

     

    Mr. Krishnadeep Baruah, Senior Marketing Director – BBM (APAC) said, “Setting up BBM Channels through this initiative, we provided leaders of corporate India an opportunity to promote their talent. As part of this format, the CEOs set up their own BBM Channels and therefore had a number of fans following them through their channels page. The number of subscribers on their BBM channel contributed to their overall score. This tool has acted as a rich community-building tool.”

     

    CEO’s Got Talent showcased India Inc.’s leaders in a manner never seen before, even by their peers. Proceeds from the auctioned painting by well-known artist Subra went to Genesis Foundation.

     

    Genesis Foundation provides financial support for life-saving and life-changing medical intervention for critically ill under-privileged children in areas of cancer, cardiac disorder, organ failure, thalassemia and extreme deformities.

     

    Watch out for all this and much more exclusively on CNBC TV18 on Saturday, 29th March 2014 at 4:30 pm and Sunday, 30th March 2014 at 5:00 pm.

  • India Inc. puts up a great show on ‘CEO’s Got Talent’

    India Inc. puts up a great show on ‘CEO’s Got Talent’

    MUMBAI: Mid-life crisis is nothing unusual. Whether it’s a middle-class executive or the chairman of a company, there comes a time when one just can’t ignore but go through the crisis that has struck. What could be the possible solution to overcome the phase? A vacation? Time off from work and family? Or something so differentiating that the meaning of your life changes?

     

    At the age of 40, the CEO of Kaytek Computers Pvt. Ltd Atul Khatri was going through this phase of his life when he decided that he would learn bartending. A fairly new talent for him. His bad luck: the bartending teacher didn’t appear for the first day’s class. He could have given up the idea of doing something exceptional but not so soon. He performed a stand-up act at an open mic venue. Surprisingly, he was liked and there has been no looking back.

     

    This is the story of Khatri, who in the last few years has discovered and only improved in the talent of being funny on stage. With his rib-tickling performance, he ended up winning the coveted trophy of CEO’s Got Talent on Friday night. The show by FremantleMedia India is a corporate initiative under the Got Talent franchise that brought together the mavericks of the corporate and entertainment industry on a common platform.

     

    The gala event witnessed twelve CEO’s of India Inc. battle it out in front of the judges – filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, actor Raveena Tandon and Colors CEO Raj Nayak. The corporate executives, who are mostly seen discussing projects, negotiating deals and taking decisions for their companies presented a completely different face of theirs on this stage.

     

    The evening started with the performance of The Xlantic Group’s chairman David Fischer (the second runner-up), who with the band, The Other People, put up a nice solo performance of a song by Bruce Springsteeen. With his scintillating performance, he set the standard for the competition, leaving even the three judges surprised that in the “garb of a corporate lies such a good singer”.

     

    Fisher says music for him is an universal language that knows no boundaries and after a hard day’s work, it is music that relaxes him.

     

    Surprisingly, not just him, a lot of other corporate honchos find solace in music. And that was the reason that out of the 12 performers, eight sang, one played the accordion and one sang and played the guitar. With this, though the CEO’s Got Talent turned to CEO’s Got ‘Musical’ Talent, no one was complaining as everybody thought it’s a nice initiative to bring to the fore the unknown side of the corporate world.

     

    After the performance of Ajay Chopra, the executive chef of The Westin Mumbai Garden City who “married cooking and singing” as he prepared a palatable seafood platter and sang Dil Ye Mera Tumse Kuch Keh Raha Hai…, Mahesh Bhatt remarked, “It’s a hell of a speed to cook and sing at the same time. Since your hands already know how to cook, you sing and let the cooking happen on its own.”

     

    Raj Nayak, however, was highly surprised by the performance of the winner Khatri. He thought that coming out with something that you like doing without worrying about “others” is a commendable thing. “One of the things we don’t do is follow our passion. We shy and conform to what others would say,” he remarked as the stand-up act by Khatri got a standing ovation.

     

    The first runner-up trophy went to Rich Graviss Products Pvt Ltd executive director and CEO Pankaj Chaturvedi. A great Kishore Kumar fan, Chaturvedi brought back nostalgia as he performed on a classic number.

     

    While Rhythm House’s managing director Mehmood Curmally, the last performer of the evening, didn’t win a prize, but he got a huge applause as he came dressed as Elvis Presley and ended the evening with the famous pelvic thrust of the legendary musician. Even the judges couldn’t control but applaud. Raveena was amazed by the effort that he put in for the performance.  

     

    FremantleMedia India managing director Anupama Mandloi said that the team has got a huge response for creating something like the CEO’s Got Talent. “It has engaged Corporate India and brought forth their fun side for the world to behold.”

     

    Presented by Blackberry Messenger, the proceeds from CEO’s Got Talent will go to Genesis Foundation, which provides financial support for life-saving and life-changing medical intervention for critically ill under-privileged children in areas of cancer, cardiac disorder, organ failure, thalassemia and extreme deformities.

     

    The show will go on air on CNBC TV18 on 22 and 23 March, 2014.

  • Universal Music India signs top 11 contestants from ‘Indian Idol juniors’

    Universal Music India signs top 11 contestants from ‘Indian Idol juniors’

    MUMBAI: Leading label Universal Music India has signed the top eleven contestants from the popular `Idol’ television property Indian Idol Junior that just completed its debut season. Emerging as a powerhouse of explosive talent, the Top 11 Indian Idol Juniors were chosen from millions of aspirants across India. The nation was taken by storm by the young musical wonders, who continued to keep the audiences in awe week after week with their prodigious flair.

     

    A well established brand already, it is the first year that the `Idol’ propertyintroduced a `junior’ season. The junior edition of the show proved to be a huge success as is evident from the impressive young talent that emerged out of which 11 proved to shine far brighter than the rest.  Universal Music offers the contestants a 360 contract wherein the young artists’ assignments will be exclusively managed by the leading record label.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director, Universal Music India & South Asia, said, “Our association with `Idol’ both globally & here has been very successful as we saw with II6 where we were able to take the recorded music piece & the Live piece & make it into a sustainable business. The Indian Idol 6 kids performed some 60 shows in over ten countries over 11 months. Now our endeavor with the Indian Idol Junior kids will exactly be the same, only with the added advantage of having a wider audience to reach out to. Our partnership with future thinking companies like Fremantle will allow us to do just that. The talent has been outstanding and it’s my firm belief that the Indian Idol Juniors today are tomorrow’s stars.”

     

    The talent on Indian Idol junior has been of an exceptional level. We are pleased to announce our association with Universal Music to build this talent into young legends.” added Anupama Mandloi, Managing Director, Fremantlemedia India.

    Along with the winner Anjana Padmanabhan, the musical sensations who created waves are Nirvesh Dave, Debanjana Karmakar, Anmol Jaswal, Sugandha Date, Sonakshi Kar, Priyam Borpatragohain, Akash Sharma, Sankalp Yaduwanshi,Eman Chaudhary and Aryan Das along with the winner Anjana Padmanabhan, all of whom set the stage ablaze with their fiery talent

    Universal Music has signed on these young superstars for a holistic 360 degree contract wherein all aspects including `live’ show, endorsements, music albums etc. will be solely managed by the label.

    For more enquires on shows, contact smiran.bansal@umusic.com.