ITV

Tag: IBN Lokmat

  • IBN Lokmat reduces Q2 loss on back of political ads

    IBN Lokmat reduces Q2 loss on back of political ads

    MUMBAI: IBN Lokmat, the JV company of IBN18 and Lokmat Group that runs a Marathi news channel, has posted a net loss of Rs 54.40 million for the quarter ending September 2009.

    The channel, which was launched in March 2008, had suffered a net loss of Rs 96.46 million in the year-ago period.

    Income from operations has jumped three-fold to Rs 25.51 million, up from Rs 6.22 million.

    The company said that on the back of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Q-o-Q revenue of the channel has gone up by 84 per cent.

    Meanwhile, the channel has also managed to curtail expenses to Rs 59.41 million in the quarter, as against Rs 86.39 million in the prior year period.

    Operating loss has dropped to Rs 33.91 million, from Rs 80.17 million in Q2 FY’09.

  • IBN18 ups stake in Viacom18 to 33.7%

    IBN18 ups stake in Viacom18 to 33.7%

    MUMBAI: IBN18 has invested Rs 2.63 billion to hold a 33.71 per cent stake in Viacom18 Media, the joint venture company with media conglomerate Viacom that runs channels such as MTV, Vh1, Nick, and Colors in India.

    IBN18 now has the option to purchase an additional 16.29 per cent stake in Viacom18, resulting in an aggregate stake of 50 per cent in the joint venture entity.

    Sources say IBN18 plans to raise Rs 1.50 billion through qualified institutional placement (QIP) to complete its holding of 50 per cent stake in Viacom18.

    IBN18 had earlier raised Rs 1.14 billion through QIP at a rate of Rs 102 per share, while the promoters had additionally infused Rs 2.41 billion in equity.

    By the end of December 2008, IBN18 had acquired 6.6 per cent of Viacom18. For the 50 per cent stake, the price is fixed at $62.5 million ($50.5 million for the transfer and $12 million as option premium – inclusive of costs of funding).

    Meanwhile, IBN18, which houses news channels CNN IBN, IBN7 and a JV Marathi news channel IBN Lokmat, has posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 920.01 million for the fiscal ended 31 March 2009.

    The net loss has expanded as in FY’08 the company had suffered a loss of Rs 234.45 million.

    Revenue rose 38.96 per cent to Rs 1.83 billion for FY’09, as against Rs 1.32 billion a year ago. Expenditure moved up 94.34 per cent to Rs 2.57 billion, compared to Rs 1.32 billion in FY’08.

    The results of Viacom18 Media will get consolidated once IBN18 holds 50 per cent in the JV.

  • FIFA World Cup Mania on CNN-IBN, IBN7 & IBN Lokmat

    FIFA World Cup Mania on CNN-IBN, IBN7 & IBN Lokmat

    NEW DELHI: CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN Lokmat have lined up an exciting programming line-up to capture the latest happenings and the action from the football field during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    The special programming A Beautiful Game on CNN-IBN and Goal on IBN7 will provide a 360 degree perspective of the tournament. A panel of experts will add their analytical perspective to the game through special preview and review shows of each match played and an indepth examination of the players’ performance in the tournament. The experts include renowned former Moroccan football player and India’s No.1 football coach, Karim Bencherifa and the country’s top football analyst and commentator Novy Kapadia. They will provide the viewers with all the vital highlights and analysis of the matches and cover all aspects of FIFA World Cup 2010.

    On IBN Lokmat, the special programming Kick Football Chi with Sunandan Lele, Consultant Editor, IBN Lokmat will consist of daily bulletins focusing on match reviews and previews. While the morning bulletins will focus on reviewing the matches which have been played, the evening bulletin will examine the various teams’ preparations for the matches ahead.

    During the tournament, CNN-IBN and IBN7 will take a comprehensive look at the entire tournament with match reviews and previews, profiles, in-depth analysis and panel discussions. While on IBN7, Senior Anchor Darain Shahidi will be seen in conversation with Novy Kapadia who will provide viewers with rare insights into the game; on CNN-IBN, host Sanjeeb Mukherjea along with Novy Kapadia, Karim Bencherifa and some of the celebrity football fans will discuss the teams’ performances and strategies for the important matches. The special programming on the channels will go on-air as per the following schedule

    On CNN-IBN, there will be a special one hour show focusing on who could win the FIFA World Cup at 7:00PM (with repeat telecast at 10:00 pm) on 10 June. The programming will also include a one and half hour special on 11 June at 6.00 pm. This interactive programme will lead up to the kick off of the FIFA World Cup 2010 at 7:30 PM IST and will bring live feeds from CNN-IBN correspondents across the country as they interact with soccer fans in the build up to the inauguration of the tournament. Additionally the programme will also feature reactions from football fans across the globe as they prepare to launch themselves into FIFA Fever. The daily programming will be telecast at 7.30 am, 7.30 pm and 10.30 pm till the tournament ends.

    On IBN7, daily programming will be telecast at 8 am and 6.30 pm throughout the tournament and on IBN Lokmat, the programming will go on air at 7.30 am (with a repeat at 11.30 am) and 6.30 pm during the length of the tournament.

  • IL&FS sells 4 million IBN18 shares for Rs 410 million

    IL&FS sells 4 million IBN18 shares for Rs 410 million

    MUMBAI: IL&FS Private Equity Trust has sold four million shares of IBN18, a Network18 Group company, for Rs 410 million.

    IL&FS offloaded the IBN18 shares in the open market at Rs 100.25 per share. IBN18 houses news channels CNN IBN, IBN7 and IBN Lokmat.

    IL&FS sold to Talma Chemical Industries and Indea Long Term Opportunities Master Fund in two bulk deals. There were other buyers as well which did not get reflected in bulk deals.

    Talma Chemical Industries purchased 1.7 million IBN18 shares, paying out around Rs 170.42 million. Indea Long Term Opportunities Mssaster Fund, on the other hand, picked up 1 million shares for around Rs 100.25 million.

    Shares of IBN18 closed Tuesday at Rs 114.95 on the BSE, up 14.95 per cent over the previous close.

  • Cranes sofware to assist CNN-IBN on poll count

    Cranes sofware to assist CNN-IBN on poll count

    NEW DELHI: Even as voters are getting ready to cast their votes in the fifth and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections tomorrow, news television channels are gearing up to give live coverage of the results as they come in and trends that emerge on the counting day, 16 May.

    Cranes Software International Limited (Cranes) will analyse the findings of opinion and exit polls as well as do the analysis of early trends for the CNN-IBN TV news channel on the counting day.

    Dr Rajeeva Karandikar, Cranes Software executive vice president, a former professor at the Indian Statistical Institute, has been driving this exercise along with the team from the Analytics Group of Cranes. The team uses Cranes’ in-house statistical software product Systat and its derivatives to analyse the data.

    In January and February 2009 as a run up to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Cranes Software team analysed data collected during the opinion poll commissioned by CNN-IBN. The raw data was collected by CSDS – the Center for the Study of Developing Societies under the leadership of noted psephologist Yogender Yadav, while the statistical analysis and implications of the data on the final composition of the Lok Sabha was presented by Karandikar in a TV program anchored by Rajdeep Sardesai on CNN-IBN.

    The Cranes team has been involved in assimilating, analysing and preparing the raw data received from AC Nielsen for use in the graphics that go on air. The team at Cranes uses their powerful statistical analysis and graphics software – Systat, to run statistical models on early counting trends and make early seat projections of the final composition of the house. The graphics team at CNN-IBN then renders the findings into graphs which are then telecast on the CNN-IBN channel along with IBN7 (Hindi), IBN Lokmat (Marathi) and occasionally on CNBC channels.

    This exercise is to take place again during the post election coverage on CNN-IBN between 13 May and 17 May.

  • IBN18 Q2 net loss at Rs 107.94 million

    IBN18 Q2 net loss at Rs 107.94 million

    MUMBAI : IBN18 (erstwhile Global Broadcast News) has posted a stand alone net loss of Rs 107.94 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2008, as against a loss of Rs 63.60 million in the same quarter of last year.

    The scheme of arrangement between BK Fincap, Jagran TV (JTV) and the company for acquisition of IBN 7 business from JTV and merger of BK Fincap into the company with effect 1 and 2 October 2007 respectively has been approved by the Delhi High Court and Allahabad High Court during the quarter.

    Consequently the net loss of Rs 67.8 million and Rs Nil (as per management accounts) on behalf of JTV and BK Fincap respectively for the second quarter FY 09 and net loss of Rs 155.1 million and Rs nil on behalf of JTV and BK Fincap respectively will be merged with the IBN18 Broadcast.

    IBN Lokmat has incurred a loss of Rs 96.4 million. The company’s share of loss based upon its holding in IBN Lokmat is Rs 48.2 million for the second quarter. Having regard to the long term investment and strategic involvement, no provision is considered necessary for diminution in the value of investment.

    During the quarter, the company’s revenue stood at Rs 304.65 million as compared to Rs 259.96 million in the year ago period.

    IBN18’s expenditure has jumped to Rs 386.2 million in the second quarter of FY 09 as against Rs 301.9 million in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. It has spent Rs 90.15 million on marketing, distribution and promotional expenses.

    On a consolidated basis, the company’s net loss stands at Rs 189.4 million on revenue of Rs 307.68 million for the second quarter of the current fiscal.

    Consolidated expenses for the company is Rs 434 million.

  • IBN-Lokmat soft launches, commercial launch on 6 April

    IBN-Lokmat soft launches, commercial launch on 6 April

    MUMBAI: IBN-Lokmat, the the GBN-Lokmat joint venture’s Marathi news channel, began its test signals and soft-launched on some cable networks in the city this evening. However, the channel will see its commercial launch on 6 April.

    IBN-Lokmat editor Nikhil Wagle says, “We are launching on Gudi Padwa (New Year as per Marathi calendar) as it is an auspicious day for the ‘Marathi Manoos’ (Marathi speaking people).”

    The channel will be available on cable networks in the state from 6 am on Sunday and will show many special programmes throughout the launch day.

    “We have a one-and-a-half hour exclusive interview with Sachin Tendulkar in Marathi in addition to our other offerings,” says Wagle.

    IBN-Lokmat has 13 fully functional bureaux and will also be using Lokmat’s reporters. IBN-Lokmat will join Zee 24 Taas and Star Majha in a market that currently generates under Rs 600 million in annual revenues.

  • IBN Lokmat set for launch by March-end

    IBN Lokmat set for launch by March-end

    NEW DELHI: IBN Lokmat, the upcoming Marathi news channel from the GBN-Lokmat joint venture company, is all set to launch by March-end.

    “We will be officially launching it between 16 March but before 1 April,” editor-in-chief Nikhil Wagle told indiantelevision.com.

    Wagle said that the existing 13 bureaux are fully functional and two more are being added. Four OB vans from the four key cities – Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad – will be used for the most “vibrant live coverage and programming.”

    “We are completely ready after the training by the American technological and editorial experts have done their work over the past few months, and this will give us the competitive edge,” Wagle held.

    He added that the channel has 13 leased lines from across the state, so that direct and live news content can be shown throughout the day.

    However, Wagle refused to disclose any programming or coverage pattern, saying: “Already there are many copycats who are getting half-baked information of the kind of programming we are going to do, and are copying them. I do not want to disclose the content beforehand.”

    Asked about the usual repeated show of violence that the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has been seriously upset with, Wagle said that if there is violence in society, it will be shown, but in a responsible manner, so that further violence is not fomented.

    Reminded that most channels had shown old footage of violence against north Indians during the Raj Thackeray arrest on 12 February, but without mentioning that those were old file photos, Wagle asserted that this will not be done in IBN Lokmat.

    “I do care for TRPs but I shall not stoop so low for TRPs that it gets away from serious but popular journalism, because that is what I have done in my 20 years of print and the past decade of television journalism. I believe that TRPs will come if one does serious and popular but highly credible journalism,” Wagle clarified.

  • IBN Lokmat to launch by March; TG ‘aspirational’ audience

    IBN Lokmat to launch by March; TG ‘aspirational’ audience

    NEW DELHI: IBN Lokmat, the Marathi news channel from the GBN stable, is all set to launch latest by March.

    The channel is currently in its trial run and will launch as soon as the new facility in Vikhroli is ready and once the ongoing 360-degree training by US experts concludes, Nikhil Wagle, editorial director tells indiantelevision.com.

    Wagle insists that the network created by IBN is unprecedented in regional journalism and includes 13 bureaux spread across the state, with 100 stringers, allowing “us to reach the last man in the village”.

    Wagle says he visited hundreds of journalism schools in the state and 2,000 students were interviewed; hence the editorial staff is representative of the entire state, not Mumbai-centric.

    Lokmat is the biggest newspaper chain with multiple editions in the state, and the new company, IBN Lokmat News Pvt Ltd, owns the channel, but is a part of the GBN group, and hence, committed to the same standards of journalism as CNN IBN, Wagle explains.

    Asked whether infotainment or even crude videos (of the kind seen on Hindi news channels) will also find a place on the channel, Wagle denies it, arguing that historically, the Maharashtrian news consumer has been more tuned to social values than those from the Hindi heartland.

    “That sort of news won’t be accepted here,” he says, adding that in any case, the company is committed to hard news that is of relevance to people.

    Wagle reveals that the core content for IBN Lokmat would be driven by the aspirational aspects of Maharashtra’s economy today.

    Sixty-four per cent of Maharashtra lives in urban areas, the highest in the country after Tamil Nadu, he says.

    “Every small town is trying to become a metro and larger towns are aspiring to higher status and this is the real issue today, so this aspirational aspect will be widely covered, along with traditional hard core news.”

    With malls and cineplexes coming up, businesses expanding and the youth lifestyle changing rapidly, urbanisation and its challenges would also be a core issue on the channel.

    Asked whether they would also include programming content like astrology, which has recently surfaced in IBN 7, GBN’s Hindi news channel, Wagle says, “There is no place for astrology in a news channel and the Marathi viewer is not interested. When they watch a news channel, they want deep-rooted investigative news.”

    There will be rural coverage as well, but Wagle says it will not just be sensational news of farmer suicides.

    “There are different angles to showing something, and we are not chasing TRPs, so when we cover farmer suicides, we shall show all the angles that exist, not just the sensational aspect,” he said.

    Rajdeep Sardesai, editor-in-chief of CNN IBN, says that the top layer of editors are the cream of Marathi journalism and will be totally driven by hard core journalism, saying, “Nikhil Wagle is no less a hard core journalist than any in the country, and so are most of the others, who all have a minimum of 15 years of journalism behind them.”