Tag: India TV

Hindi News genre versus Indian English News during festival week

BENGALURU: Previously, we asked if the Indian English News genre was faced with festival blues – pre, during and post the biggest Indian festival season of Diwali that happened in week 42 of 2017 (Saturday, 14 October 2017 to Friday 20 October 2017). How did big brother – the Hindi News genre fare? According to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India’s (BARC) weekly data, combined weekly ratings of the top five Hindi News channels also declined, but not as much as the smaller siblings have.

The variation in the Hindi News genre’s combined weekly ratings of the top five channels from its average ratings (between weeks 19 to 43 of 2017 excluding week 21) during weeks 41, 42 and 43 were -6.4 percent, -10.2 percent and -10.9 percent respectively. At the same time the variations in the Indian English News genre’s combined weekly ratings of the top five channels from its average ratings during weeks 41, 42 and 43 were -29 percent, -26.2 percent and -25.2 percent respectively.

The slide of the combined weekly ratings of the top five Hindi News channels continued pre, during and post Diwali. Their combined weekly ratings declined from 440.188 impressions in week 41 of 2017 to 422.233 million weekly impressions in Diwali week 42 of 2017 and slid even further to 419.260 million weekly impressions in week 43 of 2017. In the case the Indian English News channels, combined ratings of the top 5 channels dropped in the week 41 to 1.986 million weekly impressions, then rose a bit during Diwali week to 2.050 million weekly impressions and then fell slightly again in week 43 to 2.026 million weekly impressions.

The viewership and ratings of Hindi News and the English News genres differ. The Hindi News genre had a relatively steady viewership during the first 43 weeks of 2017. Ratings across the top three Hindi channels have had narrower margins between each other as compared to the English genre which was dominated by just two channels. Three top Hindi News channels garnered about 65 percent (almost two thirds) of the genre’s ratings. These were Aaj Tak (A little above 25 percent of the genre’s average ratings in 2017); Zee News (A little more than 20 percent of the genre’s average ratings in 2017) and ABP News (A little more than 19 percent of the genre’s average ratings in 2017).

The two channels that dominated the Indian English News genre were Republic TV (almost 36 percent of the genre’s average ratings in 2017); and Times Now (almost 30 percent of the genre’s average ratings in 2017). The Arnab Goswami led Republic TV was launched on 6 May 2017 (beginning of week 19 of 2017). In week 21 of 2017 English News channels, with the support of the News Broadcasters Association, excluding Republic TV, had withdrawn from BARC ratings measurement in protest against what they claimed were unfair practices by Republic TV. Hence the numbers considered above for the Indian English News genre, Republic TV and Times Now are for the period between weeks 19 and 43, and excludes data for week 21 of 2017.

Notwithstanding a difference in the consumer data classification for ratings for the two genres, the Hindi News genre has had a much larger viewership than the Indian English News genre. Ratings considered in this paper for the Hindi News genre have been measured across HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 15+ Individuals, while those of the Indian English News genre have been measured across All India (U+R): NCCS AB : Males 22+ Individuals. This means that the data for the Hindi News genres includes persons of all genders above 15 years of age, while in the case of the English News genre, the data only covers all males above 22 years of age. NCCS is the new consumer classification system adopted by the audience measurement body BARC. The average weekly combined ratings of the top five Hindi News channels between weeks 19 and 43 excluding week 21 of 2017 was 470.307 million impressions, while that of the Indian English News genre during weeks 19 to 43 excluding week 21 was 2.875 million impressions.

The Hindi News genre started with relatively higher ratings in week one of 2017 and dropped in weeks two and three before rising to the genre’s second highest ratings in week 11 of 2017.This was the week during which election results of five states in India were announced. On the other hand, BARC weekly data for the top five English News genre showed that the lowest combined ratings of the top five English News channels in 2017 until week 43 were in week two of 2017 (Saturday, 7 January 2017 to Friday 13 January 2017) at 1.179 million weekly impressions. Week one of 2017, with 1.218 million weekly impressions, had the second lowest ratings in 2017 until week 43.

The ratings of the Hindi News genre declined during the weeks that IPL 10 was played (week 14 to 20 of 2017) and fell further for another four weeks after IPL 10. The ratings of the Indian English News genre also started to decline in week 14 with the commencement of the IPL, but then rose sharply again with the launch of Republic TV in week 19. The combined weekly ratings of the top five English News channels in week 19 at 4.282 million were the second highest ratings scored by the genre during the first 43 week of 2017, with Republic TV garnering about half the ratings of the genre – 2.115 million weekly impressions in that week.

The combined ratings of the top five Hindi News channels in week 24 at 350.836 million weekly impressions were the genre’s lowest ratings in 2017 until the time of writing of this report, before rising again to the highest ratings of the genre in 2017 to date. This was in week 35 of 2017, the week that saw the court verdict and the resultant arrest of Indian godman Ram Rahim. News about the fate of Ram Rahim on Monday, 28 August 2017 was one of the most watched events on news television in the recent past in India. Viewership of the Hindi News genre grew 2.1 times from 121.5 million impressions (the average viewership for the previous four Mondays’) to 256.1 million impressions on Monday, 28 August 2017 according to BARC data.

On the other hand, viewership of the top five the English News channels actually shrank by 1.2 percent in week 35 to 2.942 million weekly impressions from 2.979 million weekly impressions in week 34 of 2017. It is probably the Ram Rahim verdict day news that helped English News channels retain their previous week’s ratings. The English News Genre grew by 46 percent from 482 thousand impressions (Av Impressions for the last 4 Mondays) to 703 thousand impressions on Monday 28 August 2017 according to BARC data.

Please refer to the two charts below for ratings of the Hindi News and the Indian English News channels during the first 42 weeks of 2017, albeit with an explanation before the second chart.

The Arnab Goswami led Republic TV is a major force to reckon with in the English News genre. Right from its launch, the channel has been garnering a huge chunk of the genres combined ratings. It has usurped the previous leader Times Now’s numero uno position in the English News genre from the very first week of its launch to date in 2017.

Republic TV’s average contribution to the combined ratings of the top five English News channels is about 36 percent – more than a third. In its launch week, the channel had contributed 49.44 percent to the combined ratings of the top five English News channels. Its lowest contribution to the genre’s ratings has been 30.56 percent in week 35 of 2017 (Saturday 26 August 2017 to Friday, 1 September 2017) – the channel had scored 0.899 million weekly impressions of the genre top five channels ratings combined total of 2.942 million weekly impressions. Hence the figure below shows two curved lines – one that includes the ratings of the top five English News channels including Republic TV and another that shows the combined ratings of the second, third, fourth and fifth ranked channels, or ratings without Republic TV ratings (w/o Republic TV).

November 8, 2017
Max2 creates campaign to rediscover your cherished bonds

MUMBAI: Sony Max 2 wants to break the clutter with its latest TV campaign titled ‘Kuch filmon ka jadu kabhi kam nahi hota’ (some movies never lose their magic touch). DDB Mudra is the agency that has lent its talent to three-year-old baby from Sony Pictures Network India.

The TVC focuses on the captivating richness and quality of Hindi movies that never fail to add meaning to our lives. The channel’s objective through this campaign is to continue its brand differentiation and to create a bigger impact to reach out to more viewers.

Sony Max and Max2 senior VP marketing and communications Vaishali Sharma says, “We have grown a lot in the last three years but wanted to continue brand differentiation. Reaching out to more viewers was another goal.” This was achieved by creating a campaign with tremendous recall value so that viewers can emotionally connect and recollect.

Mudra was tasked with being creative and yet stick to the channel positioning. Sharma says that all previous campaigns have also stayed true to the brand essence of being an evergreen cinema channel. “We show cinema which is gratifying and will compel you to return. Max2 helps you relive special moments. The brief given to DDB Mudra was that there are some bonds you cherish in life and Max2 helps rediscover them,” she adds.

Within 3 months, the duo explored several stories and facets and finally hit the bull’s eye. The TVC will be promoted via the movie cluster and other channels like India TV, ABP News, Hindi channels, regional Marathi channels and Gujarati channels among others. Sharma claims that the channel has been a leader for 26 out of 30 weeks from this financial year.

Through the year, the channel conducts on-ground activities in different states in which it engages with families and help them express through their cinemas. This apart, Sony Max 2 is digitally active as well and has held two seasons of timeless digital awards.

The channel does a thorough analysis of an area before it considers investing there through marketing. “We look at the growth potential in a particular market and how we can increase our footprint. Depending on areas where we can expand our reach, we undertake marketing activities,” she says.

Campaigns and advertisements like these are the channel’s way to stay relevant in the minds of the public. This is why ads need to be memorable, distinct and relatable to viewers. Will Max2’s magic be as charming as its campaign claims its movies to be?

November 7, 2017
India TV & DD News have highest OTS in top Hindi news category: Chrome DM

MUMBAI: The Hindi news genre marked the highest opportunity to see (OTS) among all categories in week 43 of Chrome Data Analytics & Media with 0.28 percent growth. In this category, India TV gained the highest OTS with 99.5 per cent and DD News was the second most benefitted in terms of OTS with 99.1 per cent on an HSM (Hindi-speaking market) excluding 1L market basis.

OTS is the actual census based percentage connectivity of a channel spread across 81 million homes

English movies genre ranked second in the gainers category with a growth of 0.25 per cent OTS in six metros. Movies Now gained the highest OTS with 54.5 per cent whereas Star Movies gained the second slot on the list with 48.4 per cent OTS.

The third position in the gainer’s list of OTS was grabbed by Hindi movies with a growth of 0.16 per cent on an HSM (Hindi-speaking market) excluding 1L market basis. In this category, OTS of Max was leading the genre with 94.0 per cent whereas Star Gold stood second with 93.8 per cent OTS.

English news genre pocketed the fourth position in the list with 0.16 per cent growth in which Rajyasabha TV led with 95.2 per cent whereas Loksabha TV grabbed second position with 94.9 per cent OTS in six metros.

Last but not the least, the fifth position in gainers list is taken by the business news genre with a growth of 0.15 per cent. In this category, Zee Business topped the OTS chart with 85.2 per cent whereas CNBC Awaaz was the second topper with 83.4 per cent in six metros.

Among the losers, English GEC was the most affected genre with a drop of 0.80 per cent OTS in six metros with Colors Infinity topping the chart with 46.8 followed by Comedy Central with 45.2 per cent OTS.

Sports genre recorded a fall of 0.72 per cent OTS on an all-India including 1L+ market basis. In this category, DD Sports grabbed highest OTS with 90.3 per cent followed by Star Sports 2 with 82.0 per cent OTS.

Hindi GEC reserved the third position in the losers list with a drop of 0.43 per cent. Star Utsav and Zee Anmol bagged the top two positions with 99.0 per cent and 96.0 per cent, respectively, on an HSM (Hindi-speaking market) excluding 1L market basis.

Infotainment took the fourth position in the losers list with a drop of 0.38 per cent. In this category, NGC got first position with 91.2 per cent and History TV 18 reserved the second position with 89.9 per cent OTS on an all-India including 1L+ market basis.

Last but not the least, Music genre stood at the fifth position with a fall of 0.24 per cent OTS with Sony Mix leading the chart with 90.3 per cent, followed by 9XM with 89.3 per cent OTS on an HSM (Hindi-speaking market) excluding 1L market basis.

November 1, 2017
India TV announces key elevations in editorial leadership

MUMBAI: It’s a celebration time in India TV office as the chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma has announced key elevations and appointments in editorial leadership.

The senior executive editor Piyush Padmakar has been elevated to the position of managing editor – news. He will head news and editorial and shall also be responsible for input and output, daily planning, programming and promotions.

Along with him, the assistant managing editor Anita Sharma has been elevated to the position of managing editor – news operations. She will be heading all newsroom manpower and operations, response, archives and co-ordination with all other departments. And, the senior executive editor Amrendra Pratap Singh has also been elevated as managing editor. He will be heading the new project.

Sharma stated, “I am extremely pleased to announce this young, energetic and truly aggressive team to lead the editorial function. With this new team in place, I feel very confident that the channel and the company continues to follow its aggressive growth path.”

In other key elevations, Sachin Sahay has been made the editor – output. He will now be responsible for news output and feeds with additional responsibility of training.

Pranay Yadav, who has been elevated as editor-political, will now head Aaj Ki Baat as the editor and producer. He will also be additionally responsible for reporting based special shows.

As a key new appointment, Utpal Chaudhry, who has moved in from ABP News, has been appointed as the editor – input. He will head news input and shall be responsible for daily planning and news reporting, interaction with bureaus and ideas. Surender Gumber has been elevated as the editor – assignment who will now head the assignment department, news gathering and logistics.

October 4, 2017
Republic TV, Aaj Tak continue to lead genres as news viewership falls

BENGALURU: Republic TV recorded its lowest viewership since its launch in week 36 of 2017 (Saturday, 2 September 2017 to Friday, 8 September 2017). The channel garnered 854,000 weekly impressions, lower than the earlier low of 868,000 weekly impressions it had scored in weeks 25 and 27 of 2017 according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 5 English News channels All India (U+R): NCCS AB: Males 22+ Individuals. The channel has started with a bang in week 19 with 2.117 million weekly impressions. At present, ignoring ratings for week 21, Republic TV’s average weekly ratings since launch until week 36 of 2017 (except for week 21) are 1.141 million weekly impressions, hence its week 36 ratings are well below its par ratings.

In the Hindi News genre, the genre leader for 35 of the 36 weeks of 2017 has been Aaj Tak. The only week that it lost the pole position was in week 6 of 2017 to India TV. Aaj Tak was ranked second in that week. For week 36 of 2017, Aaj Tak scored 137.519 million weekly impressions according to BARC list of top 5 Hindi News channels: HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 15+ Individuals. The channel’s average weekly impressions in 2017 until week 36 are 122.870 million, hence its week 36 weekly impressions score is well above its par.

In week 36, the combined weekly impressions of the top 5 English News gene channels were 2.760 million, lower than the 2.942 million weekly impressions of the previous week or the 2.979 million weekly impressions of week 34. The average combined weekly impressions of the top 5 English News channels in 2017 until week 36 (except week 21) were 2.460 million, and week 36 impressions for the genre are well above the 36 week par. The genre’s highest combined weekly impression of the top 5 channels at 4.897 million impressions were in week 11 – the week during which election results for five states were announced. The second highest ratings by the top 5 English News channels were 4.282 million impressions in week 19, the week that Republic TV was launched.

In the case of Hindi News channels, the genre had scored its highest weekly impressions in week 35, with the top 5 channels having combined weekly impressions of 738.482 million. This was the week that saw the reportage of the Ram-Rahim case judgment day – Monday, 28 August 2017 attracting record-breaking viewership. Week 36 has seen the top 5 channels combined weekly impressions plunge to 564.769 million weekly impressions, but still well above the 36 week average of 492.903 million.

Please refer to the figure below for average ratings of the top five English News channels during the first 36 weeks of 2017 (excluding data for week 21 of 2017):

Please refer to the figure below for the average ratings of the top 5 channels of the Hindi News Genre during the first 36 weeks of 2017.

As mentioned by us earlier, News about the fate of godman Ram Rahim on Monday, 28 August 2017 was one of the most watched events on news television in the recent past in India. Viewership of the Hindi News genre grew 2.1 times from 121.5 million impressions (the average viewership for the previous four Mondays’) to 256.1 million impressions on Monday, 28 August 2017. The English News genre grew by 46 percent from 482 Impressions ‘000s (Av Impressions for the last 4 Mondays) to 703 Impressions ‘000s on Monday 28 August 2017.

September 18, 2017
Virender Sehwag starts new innings with India TV’s sports show

MUMBAI: Virender Sehwag is all set to start a new innings with India TV’s sports show Cricket Ki Baat will now have him on its expert panel.

Known to be an ultra-aggressive batsman throughout his illustrious cricketing career, Sehwag has created a similar image for himself off-the-field too. This image is to do with his happy-go-lucky style of cricket commentary and carefree tweets those often create flutter amongst the Twitterati.

A visually ecstatic Sehwag on beginning of his new innings stated, “I am delighted to associate with India TV as cricket expert. It is everyone’s dream to work for the channel that is led foremost news personality Rajat Sharma.”

“I have always strived to further India’s pride through my cricket and this wasn’t possible without my fans. I am sure that I will be able to present my viewpoint on the nitty-gritties of the game to each of my fan with utmost honesty. I hope that my innings with India TV will prove to be a very successful and a memorable one,” he added.

India TV MD Ritu Dhawan said, “We look forward to the fireworks the man is packaged with. We can’t be surer that with him on the panel, we have done the best possible job for our discerning audiences in terms of providing them with lively cricketing opinions.”

The team behind the show Cricket Ki Baat is very upbeat with Sehwag’s entry on the expert panel and has lined up a flurry of specials with the legendry Cricketer, few of these are expected to be first of its kind on the News Television.

September 4, 2017
Hemant Sharma quits India TV, to pursue writing

MUMBAI: India TV director — news Hemant Sharma has decided to take a sabbatical from his career.

Confirming the news, India TV chairman Rajat Sharma said, “Hemant has had a long journey with India TV, and our best wishes are with him — always.”

Sharma said, “I have decided to take a sabbatical for my first love — writing, but I will always be available to India TV.”

According to BARC India data, India TV retained its fourth position in the Top 5 Hindi news channels list in week 29 and the latest week 30 with 80764 and 85316 Impressions (000s) sum, respectively.

August 9, 2017
How to counter terrorism: India TV conclave ‘Vande Mataram’ on 13 Aug

MUMBAI: Terrorism has impacted nations across continents and India has been one of the worst sufferers of this. Seventy years post-Independence, the country is still fighting a fierce battle against terrorism in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Today, terrorism poses a serious threat to Indian sovereignty, integrity and national security. The moot question in everyone’s mind is – when and how will we be able to counter this menace.

While the country gears up for the historic 70th Independence Day celebrations, India TV, a leading news channel, has announced yet another mega conclave, ‘Vande Mataram’ to on how to counter terrorism, its impact on the state and discuss the possible means to counter this threat in the valley with the dramatis personae involved in combating terrorism from across the political, social, strategic & defence spectrum.

Led by the chairman & editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma, India TV’s team of premier journalists shall give best to focus on the solution approach and creating an environment for a broad spectrum consensus on how the issue can be tackled with optimal effectiveness. This full-day mega conclave will be held in New Delhi on 13 August.

As all India TV conclaves, this initiative too shall have the biggest decision-makers on the issue that is being discussed those shall also interact with an august gathering of delegates representing the whole range of intelligentsia on the subject.

Among those who are expected to be present are — defence minister Arun Jaitley, home minister Rajnath Singh, J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, army chief Gen. B.C. Rawat, Gen. V.K. Singh, Farooq Abdulla, Babul Supriyo, Kumar Vishwas, Mallikarjun Kharge and Swami Ramdev etc.

Announcing the conclave, India TV managing director Ritu Dhawan noted, “The entire country is united in seeking a solution on how do we counter terrorism that has been a global malaise.

While the country’s leadership has been dealing the issue with a visible intent, is there more that can be done? As a leader in the news space, we intend to create a constructive platform for a larger consent on how to counter the issue. “We believe that if we are able to bring in even a whisker of a positive difference, we have done justice to our responsibility as an influential media company,” she added.

August 1, 2017
DD Sports emerging as chart-topper with 93.9% OTS (updated)

MUMBAI: English GEC genre grew by 0.28 per cent with Colors Infinity emerging as the leader with 48.2 per cent OTS. The English news genre saw a gained of 0.48 per cent in metros, with Loksabha TV leading the tally with 94.8 per cent OTS.

Meanwhile, witnessing a drop of 0.20 per cent, the Hindi news channels’ genre in the HSM stood at third number in the loser category with India TV scoring 99.2 per cent OTS. Last but not the least, the kids genre too witnessed a decline of 0.24 per cent across India with Cartoon Network leading the space with 84.4 per cent OTS.

Meanwhile, witnessing a drop of 5.3 per cent, the Hindi news channels’ genre in the HSM stood at third number in the loser category with India TV scoring 99.2 per cent OTS. Last but not the least, the kids genre too witnessed a decline of 3.3 per cent across India with Cartoon Network leading the space with 84.4 per cent OTS.

Among the toppers of this week, the sports channels’ genre in All India Market noted a growth of 0.70 per cent with DD Sports emerging as the chart-topper with 93.9 per cent OTS. English Movies genre increased by 0.49 per cent with Movies Now leading the list with 48.7 per cent OTS in six metros.

The Hindi Movies space garnered the fifth slot with 0.38 per cent growth. Star Gold ledu the genre with 93.6 per cent OTS. Hindi GEC was the next in the tally, which witnessed a growth of 0.21 per cent with DD National taking a lead with 98.7 per cent OTS.

(This story has been updated after receiving inputs from Chrome DM at 130pm on 14 June, 2017)

June 13, 2017
Shah predicts bigger majority for Modi in ’19: India TV conclave

MUMBAI: If the super-charged atmosphere, excitement, interactivity & the supreme participation is to be believed, India TV’s full-day mega conclave Samvaad seems to have again hit the right chord with the audience, even with its second edition.

The who’s who from the corridors of power were seen participating passionately at the daylong Conclave held to analyse the three years of Narendra Modi’s government. Leading the pack was BJP president Amit Shah, fresh from his poll victories in UP, Uttarakhand, BMC and MCD elections. Shah went on to predict that even if the entire opposition united, the NDA led by Modi will secure a bigger majority in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Another headline came from Home Minister Rajnath Singh who hinted at the imminent possibility of another ‘surgical strike’. Surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari outlined his ambitious new projects. Textile minister Smriti Irani said that she would love to have a live debate with her Amethi rival Rahul Gandhi, while the law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad spoke of his government’s opinion of ‘triple talaq.’

The afternoon session delved deep into the controversial issues, including a fiery debate on Ayodhya dispute, featuring MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy and the Kashmir issue with pro-separatist lawyer Shabnam Lone crossing swords with J&K Deputy CM Nirmal Singh and Congress leader Manish Tewari.

India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma, along with channel’s leading anchors, grilled the illustrious participants including political heavyweights from the opposition benches.

In his welcome address, India TV chairman Rajat Sharma outlined the highs & lows of the ruling regime, people’s expectations etc. while also drawing attention towards the charges made by the opposition, as he set the ball rolling for the day.

MD & CEO Ritu Dhawan on India TV delivering yet another hugely successful Event said, “We are immensely pleasured by the type of unparalleled participation we manage to get for our initiatives.”

“Not only does an effort like this touches the audiences in the best of the ways, this gets multiplied with the scale of the differentiated sets we specially create. This eventually becomes an intellectual and a visual treat for our audience,” she added.

May 17, 2017