ITV

Tag: General Entertainment Channels

  • Barc Week 42-45’22: News18 India outperforms Hindi GECs in viewership chart

    Barc Week 42-45’22: News18 India outperforms Hindi GECs in viewership chart

    Mumbai: News18 India and CNN-News18 announced that they beat the competition in terms of audience. Both channels have continued to do better on the general entertainment channels (GEC) in terms of total reach and have maintained their dominance for several months.

    According to Barc data (market share per cent 24hrs TG:15+, HSM, Week 42-45’22, all day), TV9 Bharatvarsh stood second with 14 per cent market share, followed by News18 India with 15.4 per cent, Aaj Tak with 12.9 per cent, and India TV with 12.1 per cent.

    News18 India maintained its dominance in the much-coveted prime time slot as well. According to Barc’s recent listing, the channel garners a massive 16 per cent market share. Meanwhile, TV9 Bharatvarsh received 14.9 per cent, Aaj Tak received 13 per cent, and India TV received 11.9 per cent. When the Barc ratings resumed in March of this year, the channel opened at number one and has maintained that position ever since.

    Furthermore, CNN-News18 has a market share of 31.9 per cent, which is 19 per cent higher than Republic TV and 24 per cent higher than Times Now. Republic TV and Times Now retained their market shares of 28.2 per cent and 25.8 per cent, respectively.

    In prime time, CNN-News18 continued to outperform the opposition. In accordance with the Barc ratings (market share per cent 1800-2300, TG:15+ AB, India), Times Now came in second with a market share of 26.4 per cent, followed by Republic TV with 26.6 per cent, and CNN-News18 with 33.4 per cent for the week 42–45’22, which was Monday–Friday.

    News18 India has performed better than the top general entertainment channels in terms of reach as well. In comparison to Star Plus, which had a cumulative reach of 9.2 crore, and Sony SAB, & Zee TV, which had cumulative reaches of 8.07 crore and 7.9 crore, respectively, News18 India had a cumulative reach of 10.13 crore (Barc; HSM; TG: 2+; Cume reach ‘000; Avg; Wk 42-45’22).

    The News18 brands have been gaining strong traction even online, with their views rising rapidly across YouTube and other social media platforms.

    News18 Network has made significant investments in technology and editorial resources to ensure that its content and presentation remain unique to the audience and far ahead of the competition.

  • Permission to 126 TV channels remains cancelled even as total of permitted channels rises to 869

    Permission to 126 TV channels remains cancelled even as total of permitted channels rises to 869

    New Delhi, 10 March: While the total number of satellite television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India has risen by twelve to 869 in the past month, the number of channels to whom permission had been cancelled remains 126.

    Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 995 channels which included those whose permissions were cancelled later.

    Of the permitted channels, 402 are news and current affairs channels while 467 are general entertainment channels until 29 February.

    Unlike previous times, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has not uploaded details of the twelve new channels that have been permitted during February.

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country. 

    A total of 755 channels including 375 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 94 including 79 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.    

     

  • Permission to 126 TV channels remains cancelled even as total of permitted channels rises to 869

    Permission to 126 TV channels remains cancelled even as total of permitted channels rises to 869

    New Delhi, 10 March: While the total number of satellite television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India has risen by twelve to 869 in the past month, the number of channels to whom permission had been cancelled remains 126.

    Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 995 channels which included those whose permissions were cancelled later.

    Of the permitted channels, 402 are news and current affairs channels while 467 are general entertainment channels until 29 February.

    Unlike previous times, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has not uploaded details of the twelve new channels that have been permitted during February.

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country. 

    A total of 755 channels including 375 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 94 including 79 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.    

     

  • Ad Cap: 140 channels fail to follow TRAI directive in Feb 2015

    Ad Cap: 140 channels fail to follow TRAI directive in Feb 2015

    NEW DELHI: Failing to follow the 12-minute ad cap directive laid down by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), as many as 101 general entertainment television channels and 39 news channels aired more than 12 minutes of advertisements per hour between 23 February and 1 March this year. Of these, six news channels aired more than 20 minutes of ads per hour. 

     

    Apart from these 140 channels, the other channels followed the directive of 12 minutes of ad cap per hour, according to TRAI.

     

    The directive restricting the ad cap to 12 minutes an hour by TRAI is already under challenge in the Delhi High Court, where TRAI has given a commitment that it will not take any coercive action against the channels till the outcome of the case.

     

    However, the channels had, after consultations with TRAI and government officials, agreed to the ad cap of 12 minutes from October 2013.

     

    According to a chart placed on its website by TRAI, the average duration per hour of Advertisements (Commercial & Self promotional) in Pay Non-news channels during peak hours (7 – 10 pm) for the period 23 February to 1 March went up to more than 20 minutes per hour in as many as six cases.

     

    TRAI had on 22 March, 2013 passed a regulation mandating broadcasters to restrict the duration of advertisements on their channels to a maximum of 12 minutes in any given clock-hour as prescribed in the existing rules, alleging that most TV channels are in ‘brazen breach’ of the existing rules on advertising time.

     

    In order to monitor and ensure compliance of these regulations, broadcasters were also mandated to report the duration of advertisements carried on their channels to the TRAI on a quarterly basis in a prescribed proforma.

     

    TRAI issued the Standards of Quality of Service (Duration of Advertisements in Television Channels) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, and said this was being done as the regulations set out in the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 were being violated.

     

    TRAI said it had studied the issue of duration of advertisements being carried in TV channels and the data obtained from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and that collected from the broadcasters before coming to its decision.

     

    The duration of advertisements being carried in TV channels is closely related to the quality of viewing experience of the consumers, which is akin to the quality of service being offered by the service providers to the consumers, and the regulation has been issued to ensure the quality of service and protect the interests of the consumers.

     

    The amended regulation clearly defines TRAI’s power to intervene to protect the interests of the subscribers or for ensuring compliance of the provisions of these regulations. It says that through an order of 9 January, 2004, the Central Government under Section 11(1)(d) of TRAI Act entrusted some additional functions to TRAI including the function to recommend the parameters for regulating maximum time for advertisements in pay channels as well as other channels. TRAI says the advertisements carried on by the broadcaster in their programme are a quality of service issue as they interfere with the uninterrupted broadcast of a programme and intrusion of advertisements during the telecast of a programme adversely affects the viewing experience of the consumer.

     

    The principal regulations were issued on 14 May, 2012 but had met with severe criticism from the television channels and their representative bodies. The regulations were challenged by some of the broadcasters in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and thereafter TRAI issued an amended Regulation on 27 August on which responses were called for and open house consultations also held.

     

    TRAI has also said that ‘it is important to note that the provisions in these regulations do not attempt to disturb the time limit fixed by the government regarding duration of advertisement i.e. 12 minutes per hour. As discussed earlier, TRAI is responsible to ensure that quality of service to consumer is not compromised and hence these regulations.’

     

    Click here for the full list of channels, which telecast over 12 minutes per hour of self-promotional or other advertisements during prime time

  • Who controls the remote?

    Who controls the remote?

    A TV remote control is the most sort-after item in a household. From parents to kids, everyone wants to get their hands on the small black device controlling the idiot box in the living room.

     

    The battle has been going on for decades now. The broadcasters, a very few of them in the beginning, understood it very early wherein they smartly segregated their programmes into time slots pertaining to a particular gender.

     

    Afternoons were meant for housewives who after finishing their work had their daily dose of soaps to entertain them before the children came back from schools and tune into shows catering to their tastes. It was in the evening that men got hold of the television set to catch-up on the day’s news.

     

    The pattern has been passed down the history even though the number of channels available to entertain a household has multiplied. Everybody is spoilt of choice, be it the women or men of the house or children.

     

    Everyone has numerous channels to surf before they pick their favourite.

     

    As per a new research published by Croma, the electronics megastore from Infiniti Retail, India’s women ‘own’ the household TV throughout the day; however by the time the clock chimes 9 pm it’s the men who take over.

     

    The findings highlighted in Croma’s ‘Household Habits’ survey reveal that 9 pm as a form of ‘Remote Relay’ hour is when control of the ubiquitous and all-important remote finally passes from female to male jurisdiction. According to the findings nearly 40 per cent of men claim that their female partners dominate the remote control all afternoon (from midday to 9 pm); while over half of all respondents collectively claim that it’s their respective mothers who rule the remote during the same period. Over half of the female respondents actually admit to ‘fighting for control’ of the precious device.

     

    Before the recently concluded FIFA World Cup even started, the jokes doing the rounds were of men telling their wives to keep away from the remote control at night. Every now and then, the battle intensifies especially during sporting events or some major political development. However, this doesn’t mean that women aren’t interested in sports or politics but in general it’s the soaps that catch their fancy.

     

    However, with the increase in disposable income and technology wherein multi-device and cross-screen usage has become common in certain sections of our society, the survey demonstrates the importance, protocols and household politics relating to control of the household TV set. And, according to the findings, the females of the household exercise a near monopoly on the remote; at least during daylight hours.

     

    The 9 pm slot symbolises a form of ‘changing of the guard’ when the females of the household cede control of the TV to their male counterparts.  This form of ‘remote control diplomacy’ confirms the central role and meaning the TV set continues to exert in the Indian household.

     

    While women clearly rule the noon and evening slot of the remote relay, men take over from 9 pm, with over a quarter of all respondents citing fathers overtaking mothers for control of the remote during this period. The time slot (primetime as per most channels) has seen a significant increase in male partner dominance in terms of control over the TV remote.

     

    But, if men rule the 9pm slot, one is forced to think about the primetime slot which broadcasters, especially general entertainment channels (GECs), invest in?

     

    As per various media analysts who study the medium and plan and buy for it every day, the study might be true, but the ‘change of guard’ doesn’t happen sharp at 9!

     

    They insist that times are changing and men too are interested in watching what their partners watch every night. It is a transition period wherein almost for one to two hours, both men and women, sit and watch two channels overlapping the couple’s or of family’s interest.

     

    It is family time where everyone watches together. And as kids and others move away from the TV sets as night progresses, men are left as the sole controller of the remote, free to watch whatever interests them.

     

  • Action against GECs almost three times more than against news channels

    Action against GECs almost three times more than against news channels

    NEW DELHI: Action was taken by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) 74 times against different television channels in the three years between April 2011 and March 2014.

     

    Of these, action mostly in the form of advisories was taken suo moto by the I&B Ministry 12 times – seven against general entertainment channels and five against news channels.   

     

    Of the balance 62 cases, there were reports of violation by GECs 46 times and news channels 16 times.

     

    In 16 cases, channels had to stop transmission for varying periods, while other punishments were either warnings or directives to run apology scrolls. 

     

    There were only six cases relating to advertisements, four of them about deodorants and two about liquor. 

     

    There is only one case where a channel was prohibited from telecasting a certain film in day-time following a Court order.

     

    The rest of the cases were about telecast of adult certified films before 11.00 pm or in day-time, screening films without showing the certificate of the Central Board of Film Certification, obscene or vulgar content, scenes denigrating children or likely to affect them, revealing identity of sexually abused women or children, inflammatory or provocative matter, scenes that showed the lower castes or dalits in a bad light, and scenes promoting superstition or blind belief.

     

    Individually, action was initiated against Bindass five times and three times each against Sony Entertainment Television, Colors, and Manoranjan TV. Action was initiated twice in the case of Channel V, SS TV, FTV and Comedy Central. 40 other channels faced action only once each.

     

    The advisories from the Ministry related to guidelines relating to taking children in TV programmes or hiding identity of trauma-affected children, telecast of quiz-based programmes, against programmes promoting superstition and blind belief, news about movement of troops, showing as news scenes from uncertified films, barring telecast of a round-the-clock public demonstration, comparison of prime minister’s speech on Independence Day with that of other leaders, and live telecast of Republic Day parade from Doordarshan with sign language interpretation.

  • Videocon d2h launches three new packs focusing on Star Sports

    Videocon d2h launches three new packs focusing on Star Sports

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h has launched three new subscription packages in the mid level price segment targeted at sports lovers.

    The three new packs launched are: ‘Gold Maxi’ which is priced at Rs 260 per month  and will consist of 328 channels and services including sports channels like Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) like Star Plus, Colors, Zee TV, Sony etc,  Hindi movies channel like Max, Zee Cinema etc, Hindi news channels including  Aaj Tak, NDTV India, IBN 7, India TV and regional language channels comprising all Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese and Gujarati channels and services.

     

    The second pack launched is the ‘South Silver Maxi’ which will cost Rs 205 per month. The pack consists of 308 channels and services which includes sports channels like Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3 and all Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada language channels. The third is the ‘South Gold Maxi’ at Rs 270 per month. The pack comprises 364 channels and services includin sports channels like Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3, all Tamil,  Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada channels and popular Hindi GECs.
        
    “We have always been focused on offering customer centric packages and entertainment solutions.  These new packs have been designed keeping in mind the requirements of consumers and his preferences of channels like Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 3. Consumers will now have more choice than ever before,” said Videocon director Saurabh Dhoot.  
    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera added, “We have launched three new packs, giving our consumer the convenience of choosing the packs as per his requirements.   As sports is a religion in India, we have included two major sports channels Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3 in these new subscription packs at affordable prices.”

     

  • News Broadcasters case on adcap to be heard by TDSAT on 31 October

    News Broadcasters case on adcap to be heard by TDSAT on 31 October

    NEW DELHI: The petition by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) challenging the constitutional validity of the regulations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) enforcing the ad cap is to come up for hearing on 31 October.

     

    The fresh date was fixed on a mention by counsel A J Bhambani for the NBA to the effect that the cases relating to general entertainment channels could not be clubbed with news broadcasters who had challenged the authority of TRAI to take decisions in the matter.

     

    Earlier on 30 August, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had listed the matter for 11 November.

     

    However, when some general entertainment channels including music channels approached TDSAT in various petitions, the Tribunal decided to club all the cases together and hear them on 21 October after counsel for TRAI told TDSAT during a hearing earlier this month that an anomalous situation had been created with some channels having accepted the adcap with effect from 1 October. It was therefore requested that the matter be resolved once and for all.

     

    It remains to be seen whether general entertainment channels will seek a change in date in view of the new date for the NBA case. However, counsel for some of the GECs told indiantelevision.com that TDSAT was expected to hear all matters together on 31 October.

     

    Meanwhile, TRAI had been forbidden on 30 August from taking any ‘coercive action’ against news channels who are not abiding by the agreement relating to advertisement time on news channels.

     

    The Tribunal also said that while the news channels will maintain weekly records of the advertising time per hour on a weekly basis, they will not be required to submit this to the regulator as being done at present and will only submit these to TDSAT at the hearing of the case.

     

    Bhambani had said on 30 August that a delegation of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) had submitted a formula to the regulator but that did not preclude the broadcasters from challenging the validity of the Regulations. He also said that this was only a compromise reached between the broadcasters and the regulator and could not form the basis of penal action since it was not a regulation or legal provision. He had added that there were many members who were common to both the IBF and the NBA, and therefore the IBF had submitted a ‘proposal’ on 29 May this year, which the TRAI accepted. But this could not be construed as a regulation.

     

    Even otherwise, he argued that TRAI was only empowered by its own Act to make ‘recommendations’ on issues like advertisements and not bring about or enforce regulations and resort to prosecution.

     

    When the law was invoked by the Authority in May 2012, it was disputed by television broadcasters which had also challenged the jurisdiction of TRAI in this regard before the Tribunal.