Tag: India TV

News broadcasters look at innovative ad sales

Mumbai: Approximately Rs. 600-700 million news market in India may get radically stirred if a proposal being considered by the newly-formed News Broadcasters Association of India sees the light of day.

According to the still-under-discussion proposal, hindi language news broadcasters with sizable market shares are looking at the pros and cons of offering a uniform advertising rate to clients.

The proposal, reportedly mooted by a few news market leaders in India who are part of News Broadcasters Association of India, may initially exclude the english news channels from this proposed uniform approach to ad sales, which might be a stumbling block in it going through.

Scepticism notwithstanding, one news channel head admitted that the proposal is being considered.

“It’s (having common ad rates across hindi news channels) certainly on the agenda, but there are too many ifs and buts to be sorted out before any possibility of actual implementation,” the chief executive who did not want to be named said.

The executive explained that the idea is to find common ground on various news broadcast-related issues, including infrastructure, distribution and, probably, ad sales too.

Still, the revenue sharing formula being suggested too is debatable. As per an initial suggestion, after offering common ad rates, the revenue would be split amongst news channels as per respective market share in terms of viewership and ratings.

For example, if Rs. 100 is generated through this common plank, then the bulk of it would go to the news channel boasting the largest market share and then split up as per market share percentage.

However, another news channel head questioned the model suggested, saying the proposal may be “lofty, but the revenue share formula would throw up various questions.”

Still, most news channels admit there’s no denying that having common approach to issues, including editorial, distribution and infrastructure, is worth exploring in the Indian market as certain expenses are spiraling.

For instance, distribution and placement charges of news channels have increased manifold over the last two years with limited bandwidth of cable networks and mushrooming news channels.

Presently, the major Indian news channels in hindi and English include Aaj Tak, Star News, Zee News, NDTV India, NDTV 24×7, Sahara’s eight-odd channels, India TV, CNBC TV18, Awaaz, CNN IBN and IBN7.

The News Broadcasters Association of India is also in the process of finalizing content code for its member companies and exploring having an ombudsman on the lines of Editors’ Guild of India, which primarily oversees the print medium.

November 6, 2006
JumpTV to offer 3 Sahara channels

MUMBAI: Jump TV, a global player in the delivery of international television over the internet, has added three more channels to its basket of Indian channels. The online television platform player will be offering general entertainment channel SaharaOne TV, movie channel Filmy and a news channel Sahara Samay.

Recently, SaharaOne Media and Entertainment had entered into a long term deal with New York based broadcast distribution outfit GloboSat Entertainment in order to help the company launch its channel services at various countries.

Sahara One, Sahara Samay and Sahara Filmy will be priced individually at US$9.95 per month when launched commercially and will likely become part of a future bundle of South Asian channels, according to an official release.

JumpTV, at present, offers other Indian channels such as Sony, India TV, Amitra TV, Kairali TV, People TV, Punjab Today and Balle Balle.

JumpTV International president and chief executive officer Kaleil Isaza Tuzman said, “Hindi is the fifth most spoken language in the world. The addition of these channels makes it easier for the millions of Hindi speaking people living outside South Asia to remain connected to the television programming they know and love from home.”

JumpTV Asia-Pacific group general manager Kevin Foong said, “JumpTV remains focused on securing the global IP rights to top channels in key regions worldwide. The potential for adding more subscribers by making Sahara programming available online is exciting and provides the partners in this agreement an opportunity to profit through a revenue sharing structure.”

GloboSat president and CEO Sudhir Vaishnav said, “With our state-of-the-art production and broadcast facilities in New York and Toronto, we are able to create local content as per market needs. Our strategic partnerships with DTH, cable, broadband, IPTV, mobile and other platforms spanning across North and South America, Europe and the UK help our broadcast partners to build international presence faster.”

October 31, 2006
India TV stands by cricket story; Modi threatens legal action

NEW DELHI: Taking umbrage of what it termed “misreporting,” the Lalit Modi-headed Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) announced it will file a legal suit against the Rajat Sharma promoted India TV Similar action will also be taken against a widely circulated Hindi daily, Punjab Kesari, an official statement from RCA stated.

The statement added that Modi, president of RCA and vice-president of the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), has taken “strong exception to the malicious, fabricated (and) distorted reporting” by a section of print and electronic media, while reporting a survey by income tax authorities on RCA office premises in Jaipur on 1 September.

When contacted, India TV said it stands by the story and added it was “duty-bound to report facts without fear or favour, howsoever inconvenient” they may be to the parties who are being probed by income tax authorities in Rajasthan and Mumbai.

RCA has contended that while the aforementioned two media organizations said a raid was conducted in the middle of the night, it was a “routine survey” that did not place in the middle of night.

Apart from some other ‘disputed’ facts, the regional cricket body, which has been a platform for Modi to contest against some former BCCI officials, also said the visuals telecast were not of the RCA.

Legal counsel for the RCA Mehmood Abdi, was quoted in the official statement as saying, “RCA and Mr. Lalit Modi have decided to take legal action against all such publishers and broadcasters, particularly India TV of Mr Rajat Sharma and Punjab Kesari, for deliberately twisting facts of an interactive session, which took place between the RCA officials and the income tax authorities.”

Pointing out that the tax authorities came for “verification of records”, Abdi said media “preferred” to describe it as “raid and seizure of records and recovery of cash from RCA office.”

September 3, 2006
India TV’s ‘Breaking News’ showcases German company marketing tissues bearing images of Lord Krishna and Rama

New Delhi, February 22, 2006: India TV has brought to light a German company marketing tissues with pictures of Lord Rama and Krishna on it. India TV took up this issue in its program ‘Breaking News’ on February 21, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. The story has evoked tremendous response from viewers and also within the Parliament.

The company, Sniff Tissues Paper Products Design (PPD), is based in Germany. Sniff Tissues Paper Products Design (PPD), is manufacturing novelty tissues bearing the images of Lord Shri Rama/Krishna and the Virgin Mary and distributing them worldwide. The manufacturers have refused to pull them from the shops because they believe they appeal to people for “fashion reasons.” The National Council of Hindu Temples complained to the company that the products were very unacceptable and offensive, and encouraged people to “blow their nose on holy images.”

The German company replied that in their opinion these tissues are used as accessories and for fashion reasons and furthermore many young people, Christians as well as people from other religions, are interested in the Hindu belief and the tissue might support this interest. “We have a great response for these products. Young people really like It because Virgin Mary and Lord Krishna have become cult characters, not because they make fun of them. On the contrary they start to think about religious things again. So we attract attention but in a positive way.”

Sniff tissues acknowledged that the products may have caused offense. “We’d like to express our apology if we hurt anybody’s feelings, but because of the reasons above-mentioned we won’t stop producing or selling these products.”

The travel-size tissues were pulled from sale in the Victoria and Albert Museum gift shop (London) recently after pressure from various Hindu organizations. The tissues were also found in South America, Wales and other parts of the world.

Viewers have entrusted India TV to responsibly take up issues pertaining to day-to-day lives. In response to that trust, India TV has consistently been examining issues that touch people’s live. Past undercover operations conducted by the channel include one on the casting couch in Bollywood; on blood banks; on the illicit trade in human eyes; on the cloning of mobile phones; and on police brutality.

The details of the company as we understand are as follows:
Paper Products Design (PPD)
PR Department
Michael Neunfinger
Am Hambuch 4
53340 Meckenheim
Tel: 02225-9935-45; Fax: 02225-9935-35
E-Mail: m.neunfinger@paperproductsdesign.de ; http://www.ppd.tv

For Further Information please contact:

Santanu Gogoi
Corporate Voice | Weber Shandwick
212, Second Floor,
Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III
New Delhi – 110020, INDIA
Tel: +91-11-26936834 (main)
Fax: +91-11-26936836
Mobile: +91-98-104-24271
santanu@corvoshandwick.co.in
www.webershandwick.com

August 2, 2006
India TV expands editorial team

MUMBAI: The Rajat Sharma — promoted India TV has announced three new appointments within the editorial team in the Hindi news and current affair channel.

The news channel has roped in Aaj Tak’s senior special correspondent Kumar Rajesh as the executive editor. Rajesh, in the past had been associated with Rajat Sharma through the news property Aaj ki Baat as an anchor as well as the associate editor. Earlier, he had worked with Sahara news channel.

Channel7 senior editor news gathering Prashant Tandon has been brought in to take reponsibility in a similar position. Tandon had earlier worked with Star News, Sahara UP news channel and also for a news based show Rozana produced by BAG Films for DD.

Nepal 1 executive producer Kishore Kumar Malviya has been appointed as senior editor. Malviya had been associated with Zee News and Navbharat Times.

In an official statement issued, India TV editor in chief Rajat Sharma says, “We are delighted to welcome Kumar, Prashant and Kishore. I have no doubt that Kumar’s 14 years in television journalism will be a huge asset in India TV’s next phase of growth.

“Prashant has rich experience in strategic planning and content management and you will be seeing his impact in India TV’s news gathering operations almost immediately. Kishore brings in all-round skill sets across the news gathering and output functions besides having been out there in sensitive field assignments.”

July 20, 2006
JumpTV to beef up India operations; signs Cutting Edge Media as representative

MUMBAI: JumpTV, a global player in the delivery of international television over the internet, has entered into a strategic partnership with Cutting Edge Media, one of India’s independent media sales company, to expand JumpTV’s presence in South Asia.

JumpTV will work with Cutting Edge Media to secure new broadcast agreements using internet protocol; enter into distribution agreements for JumpTV’s global TV roster with Indian cable, mobile telephony, and IPTV providers and build on JumpTV’s existing menu of South Asian television content.

Currently, JumpTV has signed internet-broadcast agreements with Indian channels: Sony Entertainment Television Asia, India TV, Punjab Today and Balle Balle.

Other South Asian channels the company has roped in are: OnTV, Channel i, RTV from Bangladesh;TV One and HumTV from Pakistan.

Cutting Edge Media oversees brokering distribution, advertising and subscription deals for foreign media companies entering the Indian markets and those Indian outlets looking to grow their international audiences. Its clientele includes Cartoon Network, CNN, Reality TV, The Hallmark Channel and Channel News Asia.

“South Asia is an incredibly vibrant media market. Television stations create and broadcast truly innovative programming, which is closely followed by a passionate viewer base living all over the world. By partnering with Cutting Edge Media, JumpTV will develop new relationships and deepen existing relationships with leading broadcasters from the sub-continent, serving as a platform to internationalize their content over the Internet,” says JumpTV’s Asia Pacific general manager, Kevin Foong.

He adds, “While our Asian lineup of more than 25 channels includes highly popular South Asian broadcasters such as India’s SET Asia, Pakistan’s TV One and Hum TV, Jaya TV, as well as Bangladesh’s leading stations nTV and Channel i, we are always looking for new ways to serve the vast Pan-Asian communities living away from their respective homelands.”

Cutting Edge Media CEO Murtuza Kagalwala states, “The Internet provides the ideal platform for reaching audiences scattered around the globe. The partnership with JumpTV will allow us to develop significant channel partnerships with Pan-Asian television stations, providing them with the technological platform to become part of the Internet revolution.”

July 20, 2006
Channel7 executive editor Ajit Sahi quits to join United Nations Millennium Campaign

MUMBAI: Global Broadcast News (GBN) and Jagran TV partnered Channel7’s programming head Ajit Sahi has quit the news organisation to join United Nations Millennium Campaign as communication co-ordinator South Asia.

The United Nations Millennium Campaign has been initated by the United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan with the aim to stimulate a global movement to press governments to translate pledges made at the UN’s 2000 Millennium Summit into a reality.

Before GBN bought into Jagran TV-promoted Channel7, Sahi was the executive editor of the news channel. After the restrucuturing, Ashtosh from Aaj Tak had been brought in as the editorial head and Sahi was given other responsibilities.

Sahi had filled the position of head of Channel 7 after Arup Ghosh quit as news director in 2005.

A print medium journalist-turned-TV man, Sahi has also worked with Star News and the defunct Buisness India TV where he worked as a senior producer. There, he worked under political analyst and mediaperson Vinod Dua and TV18’s present promoter Raghav Bahl.

June 1, 2006

Star News scores big with Wah! Cricket

STAR News scores big with Wah! Cricket
” 7 of top 8 cricket programmes amongst the Top 100 news programmes

Mumbai, May 10, 2006: STAR News, the Channel known for its programming competence and diversity has reiterated its pre-eminence in cricketing news too, proving that when it comes to reporting on cricket, India tunes in to STAR News. The Top 100 programmes for TAM Week 17 (April 23-April 29) include 8 cricket/sports related programmes, out of which 7 are on STAR News. Wah! Cricket and Operation Vijay, the premium cricket properties on STAR News hit the competition out of the ground.

Wah! Cricket has consistently scored as the top cricket-related programme. It reiterated its top billing in all three time slots for its well-applauded coverage of the recently concluded highly emotive India-Pakistan cricket series. However, for TAM Week 17, which did not have any significant cricketing developments on-field, STAR News scored for its well-rounded reporting off-field too. By presenting an overall analysis and impact on the happenings in the cricket world, including Sachin’s Birthday, Brand Dhoni, Team Selection etc., STAR News scored big to feature 7 of its cricketing programmes in the Top 100 programmes. Amongst the cricketing programmes, Aaj Tak’s cricketing programme came in only at # 6 with a TVR of 0.36. Besides, it also garnered 26% of the marketshare in the 7.30 to 8 pm slot, leaving Aaj Tak behind at 22% and NDTV India far behind at 12%. India TV and Zee News followed next at 10% and 9% marketshare.

Channel	Date	Days	Time From	Time To	Programme	TVR
Star News	23/04/2006	Sun	19:30	19:59	WAH CRICKET KHEL KA PEEC	0.5
Star News	26/04/2006	Wed	8:30	9:00	WAH CRICKET KHEL KA PEEC	0.4
Star News	25/04/2006	Tue	19:31	20:00	WAH CRICKET KHEL KA PEEC	0.39
Star News	23/04/2006	Sun	22:31	22:59	KHEL KHEL MEIN	0.39
Star News	28/04/2006	Fri	8:32	9:00	WAH CRICKET KHEL KA PEEC	0.38
Star News	24/04/2006	Mon	19:30	20:00	WAH CRICKET KHEL KA PEEC	0.38
Star News	26/04/2006	Wed	22:31	22:59	OPERATION VIJAY AAKRAMAN	0.34

Wah! Cricket has been one of the channel’s best performing properties ever since its inception. The programme has enjoyed its position as the highest rated cricket news bulletin on news television for a long time. Little wonder then that the programme has had an enviable guest list with cricketing stalwarts like Bishen Singh Bedi, Zaheer Abbas, Sandeep Patil, and others offering incisive insight.

The success of Wah! Cricket reinstates and endorses the channel’s proficiency in alternate programming. The discerning and increasingly demanding viewer is always looking for a little more bang from a news channel. STAR News seems to be producing just the right cricketing shots!

And coming on the very threshold of the India-West Indies cricket series, the recent ratings are an endorsement of the patented excitement to watch for on STAR News. Catch the fever only on STAR News!

ABOUT STAR NEWS
STAR News, the first Indian news channel, is a joint venture between ABP TV – a 100 % subsidiary of ABP Pvt. Ltd. – and STAR India Pvt. Ltd., two of the biggest brands in Indian media. The Channel is best defined by a fair and balanced approach that combines prompt reporting with insightful analysis of news and current affairs. Living up to its motto of “Aapko Rakhe Aagey’, STAR News is a people’s channel that focuses on relevant news in a cutting-edge format. Since its conception, the Channel has grown to command a viewership of over 20 million Indian homes. Today, STAR News is available in the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, Central Asia, UK, USA and Australia, making it the first and only Global Indian News Channel.

For further information, please contact:
Navin Tauro / Swati Sundareswaran
Vaishnavi Corporate Communications
Tel: 022 5656 8787 / Fax: 022 5656 8788

May 10, 2006