ITV

Tag: Hindi channel

  • Atrangii TV to telecast shows ad-free

    Atrangii TV to telecast shows ad-free

    Mumbai: The newly launched Hindi GEC, Atrangii TV, has announced that shows will be available break-free, without any additional premium charges.

    Audiences across the country can enjoy their favourite shows on the channel without any breaks and experience premium OTT-style viewing while watching a television channel with their family.  

    This is the very first time that a Hindi GEC will run their entire programming line-up break-free without any premium subscription.  

    Atrangii TV has come up with its first-ever pricing benchmark from 1 August 2022. The unique and varied content targeting different genres of audiences is the USP of the channel and hence makes it different from other GECs who prefer to showcase only regular family soap dramas. From historical and mythological to comedy and romance, Atrangii TV provides a varied range of shows for all its audiences.  

    Speaking about a first-of-its-kind roll-out, Atrangii TV founder and group CEO Vibhu Agarwal said, “Since the launch of the channel, our endeavour has been to curate gripping, cutting-edge concepts with high production values. “We want our viewers, who are Hindi-speaking and understand audiences across the length and breadth of the country, to enjoy quality content. Adding to the experience, we want our viewers to enjoy premium viewing without paying anything additional. Hence, the Atrangii channel is break-free, which further enriches the viewing experience of the audience.”

  • Viacom18 announces the launch of Sports18 Khel on DD FreeDish

    Viacom18 announces the launch of Sports18 Khel on DD FreeDish

    Mumbai: Viacom18 on Monday announced the launch of Sports18 Khel – its free-to-air (FTA) Hindi channel, available on Prasar Bharati’s DTH service DD FreeDish. The announcement follows closely on the heels of the launch of its pay-TV channel Sports18.

    Sports18 Khel will allow fans to watch their favourite sports in Hindi, including the highlights of the 2021-22 NBA season, Abu Dhabi T10 League, Road Safety World Series, Santosh Trophy, glorious moments of Indian sports and other such offerings, said the statement.

    “Viacom18 secured a slot on DD FreeDish to make sports content easily accessible and expand the consumption of the genre across a wider audience,” says a Viacom18 Sports spokesperson. “Sports18 Khel will offer content relevant to the FTA subscribers across a range of sports in Hindi. This is also an opportunity to funnel a new audience to the pay-TV segment.”

    Effective 25 April, Sports18 Khel will be available on channel #25 on DD FreeDish. Meanwhile, Sports18 SD is available on channel #488 on Tata Play, channel #293 on Airtel Digital TV, on channel #262 on JioTV +, and Sports18 HD on channel #261 JioTV +. Viewers can continue to watch their preferred sports by downloading Viacom18’s premium video-on-demand platform Voot (iOS & Android) and JioTV (iOS & Android).

  • Q India hits goal of 100 Million TV homes

    Q India hits goal of 100 Million TV homes

    MUMBAI: QYOU Media Inc., (TSXV: QYOU; OTCQB: QYOUF) has announced that The Q India, the company’s Hindi language youth oriented channel available in and on over 700 million homes and devices in India, has reached its 2021 goal of distribution to 100 Million TV Households as a result of launching on both DD Free Dish & Dish TV in April. The Q India has now gone live to 50 million additional TV homes in the month of April placing it in a position to challenge leading youth oriented channels and brands in the country that previously had significantly higher numbers of homes reached. The company issued a press release on 1 March 2021 in connection with the new DD Free Dish (Channel 34) agreement. The new distribution relationship with DISH TV (Channel 128) has not been previously disclosed.

    QYOU Media India co-founder & general manager Sunder Aaron said, “2021 continues to be a year where The Q India is accelerating the depth and breadth of our foundation for becoming a mainstream brand and media company in India.  We have stated our goal of being a leading youth brand in India and distribution agreements like these are a key to making that happen. In addition, these are critically important building blocks as we pursue growing ratings and the ensuing revenue that will occur”.

    The Q India is an advertiser and influencer marketing supported Hindi language content brand, channel and VOD provider delivering hit digital programming from social media stars and leading digital video creators targeting Young Indian audiences.  The channel has recently become one of India’s fastest growing youth entertainment brands reaching 4.4 Gross Rating Points (GRP) on BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) in February 2021. With a growing library of over 850 programs, and beginning in April with the addition of DD Free Dish, the channel will reach an audience of over 712 million via 100 million television homes with partners including DD Free Dish, TATA Sky, DISH TV and SitiNetworks; 380 million OTT users via platforms including ShemarooMe, MX Player, ZEE5, and Dish Watcho; and 232 million users on mobile and digital platforms including Snap, JioTV, Airtel Xstream, Amazon Fire TV, Chingari and Samsung TV Plus.

  • NDTV India ban: SC to hear appeal on 5 Dec; govt may restructure review panel

    NDTV India ban: SC to hear appeal on 5 Dec; govt may restructure review panel

    MUMBAI: It is not going to be easy to gag the freedom of press. NDTV India’s appeal against the one-day ban on its Hindi channel will be heard next month by the Supreme Court.

    NDTV has challenged the ban for violating the constitutional right to free speech and expression.

    Appearing for NDTV, Fali Nariman, one of India’s most reputed lawyers, said that, because the government has suspended the ban, there was no urgent need for the court to stay the government’s order that called for a 24-hour ban and that the case could be heard a month later, during which NDTV expects the government to take a final decision.

    The government on November 7 put on hold its order asking NDTV India not to telecast for 24 hours starting 9 November for allegedly flouting norms.

    The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing to December 5 as Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told Justice A.K. Sikri that there was no real urgency as their plea (by NDTV) for review of the decision was being considered by the government.

    The ban was put on hold by the government after representatives of NDTV met with Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu. NDTV reiterated that its Hindi channel did not broadcast sensitive details of the terror attack on the Pathankot air base.

    The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry said it was weighing restructuring the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) which reviews cases of violations in the broadcast media. The ministry was facing criticism for directing NDTV India to go off air for a day.

  • NDTV India ban: SC to hear appeal on 5 Dec; govt may restructure review panel

    NDTV India ban: SC to hear appeal on 5 Dec; govt may restructure review panel

    MUMBAI: It is not going to be easy to gag the freedom of press. NDTV India’s appeal against the one-day ban on its Hindi channel will be heard next month by the Supreme Court.

    NDTV has challenged the ban for violating the constitutional right to free speech and expression.

    Appearing for NDTV, Fali Nariman, one of India’s most reputed lawyers, said that, because the government has suspended the ban, there was no urgent need for the court to stay the government’s order that called for a 24-hour ban and that the case could be heard a month later, during which NDTV expects the government to take a final decision.

    The government on November 7 put on hold its order asking NDTV India not to telecast for 24 hours starting 9 November for allegedly flouting norms.

    The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing to December 5 as Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told Justice A.K. Sikri that there was no real urgency as their plea (by NDTV) for review of the decision was being considered by the government.

    The ban was put on hold by the government after representatives of NDTV met with Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu. NDTV reiterated that its Hindi channel did not broadcast sensitive details of the terror attack on the Pathankot air base.

    The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry said it was weighing restructuring the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) which reviews cases of violations in the broadcast media. The ministry was facing criticism for directing NDTV India to go off air for a day.

  • Is Ashutosh going to pursue politics?

    Is Ashutosh going to pursue politics?

    MUMBAI: Indian journalism has had few very popular names to boast of when it comes to journalists. One such name is Ashutosh. He just didn’t contribute to the growth of Hindi channels of two of the biggest networks in the country when they were launched, he also became their face during the time he was working for them.  The first one was Aaj Tak from the TV Today group which was launched in 2000, and the second was IBN7, a joint venture between Global Broadcast News and Jagran TV in 2006.

     

    In 2006, when Ashutosh left the position as deputy executive producer at Aaj Tak to join IBN7 as managing editor, he created a commotion. Once again, he repeated history today when the news of his resignation broke out. The journalist decided to end his eight year relationship with IBN7 as well without notifying anybody about his future plans.

     

    While there’s a possibility that he could join/open another news channel, rumours are afloat that he is all set to end his more than two decade long journalistic career and join the much talked about newbie political party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

     

    And as the rumours are reaching far and wide, one wonders if it is possible for someone who was so committed to his work for such a long time can finally change course at the age of 49 and serve the country is another way! When quizzed about his next course of action he says, “I am open to all options.”

     

    When probed further and quizzed if he is actually taking the political route, Ashutosh chose to give an ambiguous response that too twice, “Let’s see.”

     

    While we were still wondering what to make out of his response, a tweet from Ashutosh gave us a slight glimpse of what is going on in his mind. He wrote, “Eight years back I changed my course, now there is another time, another call of destiny, have to swim- have to swim.”

     

    So, is there a change of course for the journalist who started his broadcasting career in 1996 as a correspondent with Aaj Tak, which at that time was just a 20 minute news bulletin on the pubcaster – Doordarshan Metro. Aaj Tak was just a year old then. When the channel was launched in 2000, Ashutosh became a known face in many Hindi-speaking households with his primetime anchoring.

     

    In a 2008 interview with indiantelevision.com, reminiscing about his initial days in the field, he had said, “In early 1996 I was working as a correspondent with Aaj Tak I was getting ready to give my PTC for a story on a lonely bumpy road in Ganderbal when suddenly a 10 year old boy appeared from nowhere and shouted…Ashutosh, Delhi, Aaj Tak. I was stunned. I could not comprehend that in a place so removed from civilisation, someone could recognise me. That was the power of TV. Those words still ring in my ears and I cannot forget that small boy’s face.”

     

    Wonder if he would be able to leave the profession that he so fondly rejoiced once, or is it “country calling” for him!