ITV

Tag: India

  • Netflix ties up with PTCL as Amazon woos India

    Netflix ties up with PTCL as Amazon woos India

    MUMBAI: As the world’s leading video-streaming network Netflix and e-commerce giant Amazon take different routes to reach out to the Indian audience while they expand globally, the former is partnering with a top-ranking company in India’s neighbourhood Pakistan, thus strengthening its hold in the sub-continent.

    While Amazon is relying on going local with its video streaming service, Netflix is depending on its global programming.Amazon meantime has commissioned “Baahubali: The Lost Legends,” a new animated series in India based on a local blockbuster movie.

    Pakistani telco PTCL has signed a partnership agreement with Netflix. The two companies will use their respective resources for a symbiotic relationship, maximising the viewing experience and penetration of Netflix services in the Islamic state. This pact will serve as the way forward for both Netflix and PTCL to provide digital content. PTCL will promote and aid original Netflix content in Pakistan.

    Amazon Studios chief Roy Price frequents India scouting for locally appealing programming for Amazon’s forthcoming video service.

    Though Netflix made its India debut around 10 months ago, it makes content-buying decisions out of Los Angeles, even for regional shows, to ensure they have global appeal. For example, the deal with Indian producer Phantom Films for its new Indian original series, based on the internationally acclaimed Mumbai crime novel “Sacred Games.”

    In Pakistan however PTCL became the only service provider with advanced caching servers and technical pairing with Netflix to offer the superior viewing experience since Netflix’s global launch in January 2016. The Netflix Pakistan website says users can start using services starting $7.99 a month, with a free month offer.

    Netflix made the announcement during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings: “Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network.” Members with a streaming-only plan will be able to watch instantly through the Netflix service. The movies and TV shows that are available to stream may vary by location, and will change from time to time.

    India, Nigeria, Russia and Saudi Arabia were among the major countries where the service was launched, Hastings said at a Consumer Electronics Show keynote in Las Vegas.

    The company recently said it was exploring options for providing its services in China. The company said in July that plans to enter China in 2016 could be delayed. However, Netflix added simplified and traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports.

    PTCL’s chief commercial officer Adnan Shahid described digital entertainment as PTCL’s “key priority”. Netflix, which has expanded into some 190 countries following a near-global launch in January, doesn’t believe in a physical presence in every market.

    Amazon has been selective internationally, pushing Prime Video into some European markets, Japan, and now India. Its bet is that homegrown programming will win over Indian audiences, a strategy analysts say could also help increase Amazon shoppers’ loyalty.

    Netflix is generally reviewed as a stand-alone streaming business, with 87 million subscribers, while Amazon’s video operations are part of the giant’s much larger e-commerce business, with 60 million global Prime members, according to Morgan Stanley estimates.

  • Colors to actively engage viewers through Israeli singing show ‘Rising Star’ in early 2017

    Colors to actively engage viewers through Israeli singing show ‘Rising Star’ in early 2017

    MUMBAI: Colors launched its first singing reality show Sur Kshetra in 2012, a musical battle between teams of two neighbouring countries Pakistan and India. The show was indeed one of its kind.

    Staying true to its brand value of being at the forefront of innovation and disruptive programming, Colors has joined hands with the world-renowned production and distribution giant Keshet International to bring the Israeli singing reality show Rising Star to India.

    The show is one of the world’s most celebrated singing-based reality shows with live viewer engagement at its core. Rising Star is slated for an early 2017 launch on Colors, and will be produced by Optimystix Entertainment.

    Originally created and produced by Tedy Productions and Keshet Broadcasting, has, since its inception in 2013, enthralled the global audience with the most vivid talent. With more than 250 episodes globally to its credit, the format has been aired across more than 16 countries including Israel, the U.S, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, China, Cambodia and Indonesia amongst others.

    Commenting on this landmark acquisition, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “For the first time, here is a reality show that will not only be Live but will also give the viewers sitting at home an opportunity to engage with the progress and build-up of the show. What is beautiful about the format is that it’s instant & Live. We are delighted to be collaborating with Keshet International to bring Rising Star to India. Our Channel boasts of having one of the biggest consumer engagement platforms in the country and one can assert that a format like Rising Star couldn’t have found a better stage than ours. The show’s USP is that it’s not only high on entertainment quotient but also has the ability to connect and communicate with the viewers directly.”

    With Digital India being the new order of the day, Rising Star is a first-of-its-kind futuristic interactive engagement-led format which puts the power of determining a contestant’s fate in the hands of the viewers. Through its app-based mass talent-led format, the show will welcome budding singers from across the country, bringing them together on a common platform.

    Keshet International head of Asia Gary Pudney said, “We are beyond excited about bringing Rising Star to the Indian audience. India is embracing technology more ferociously than ever before and, in partnership with our brilliant partners at Colors, we will be delivering prime time entertainment that satisfies viewers’ hunger to become more active and engaged viewers of high end content.”

    Apart from Rising Star, the recent adaptations of KIA formats include “Prisoners of War” India which will be aired on Star India’s Hindi general entertainment channel (GECs) Star Plus.

  • Colors to actively engage viewers through Israeli singing show ‘Rising Star’ in early 2017

    Colors to actively engage viewers through Israeli singing show ‘Rising Star’ in early 2017

    MUMBAI: Colors launched its first singing reality show Sur Kshetra in 2012, a musical battle between teams of two neighbouring countries Pakistan and India. The show was indeed one of its kind.

    Staying true to its brand value of being at the forefront of innovation and disruptive programming, Colors has joined hands with the world-renowned production and distribution giant Keshet International to bring the Israeli singing reality show Rising Star to India.

    The show is one of the world’s most celebrated singing-based reality shows with live viewer engagement at its core. Rising Star is slated for an early 2017 launch on Colors, and will be produced by Optimystix Entertainment.

    Originally created and produced by Tedy Productions and Keshet Broadcasting, has, since its inception in 2013, enthralled the global audience with the most vivid talent. With more than 250 episodes globally to its credit, the format has been aired across more than 16 countries including Israel, the U.S, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, China, Cambodia and Indonesia amongst others.

    Commenting on this landmark acquisition, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “For the first time, here is a reality show that will not only be Live but will also give the viewers sitting at home an opportunity to engage with the progress and build-up of the show. What is beautiful about the format is that it’s instant & Live. We are delighted to be collaborating with Keshet International to bring Rising Star to India. Our Channel boasts of having one of the biggest consumer engagement platforms in the country and one can assert that a format like Rising Star couldn’t have found a better stage than ours. The show’s USP is that it’s not only high on entertainment quotient but also has the ability to connect and communicate with the viewers directly.”

    With Digital India being the new order of the day, Rising Star is a first-of-its-kind futuristic interactive engagement-led format which puts the power of determining a contestant’s fate in the hands of the viewers. Through its app-based mass talent-led format, the show will welcome budding singers from across the country, bringing them together on a common platform.

    Keshet International head of Asia Gary Pudney said, “We are beyond excited about bringing Rising Star to the Indian audience. India is embracing technology more ferociously than ever before and, in partnership with our brilliant partners at Colors, we will be delivering prime time entertainment that satisfies viewers’ hunger to become more active and engaged viewers of high end content.”

    Apart from Rising Star, the recent adaptations of KIA formats include “Prisoners of War” India which will be aired on Star India’s Hindi general entertainment channel (GECs) Star Plus.

  • Discovery to take viewers on journey across 29 states

    Discovery to take viewers on journey across 29 states

    MUMBAI: Discovery is all set to premiere a new show which will see two road-trippers taking a journey around India. Titled #IndiaMyWay, it goes in search of young Indians, their passion and their continual quest for the unusual, exotic and adventurous side of life. The 13-part series introduces viewers to a range of characters ranging from celebrities, tribal fashionistas, women wrestlers, young scientists, tattoo artists, path breaking entrepreneurs, etc.

    Paloma Monappa, an actor and avid traveler, and Meraj Shah, a travel writer, will share their passion for adventure and exploration of a new India.

    The show starts on 16 October every Sunday at 8 pm. Travelling across all the 29 states, the series brings inspirational stories, a testament to young India’s grit and a fresh way of looking at the world.

    Monappa said, “#Indiamyway has been a thrilling journey that traces juxtaposition of the new with the old. The series encapsulates incredibly liberating and empowering works of young Indians which paints an inspiring picture of the emerging India.”

    The duo will cruise around in a Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, covering over 28,000 kilometers, travelling through the roads of Delhi, trotting lush vineyards of Nashik, taking a safari in the Rann, cruising treacherous terrains of Ladakh, the duo is driven by the irresistible lure of far flung roads on an ultimate expedition.

    “I have been travelling for years, however, this road trip was unique and refreshing. #Indiamyway has been one of the most enriching experiences, offering a stimulating view about the contemporary wave in our socio-cultural structure,” added Shah.

    The road-trippers talk to everyone from photographers to chefs, comedians, sound-designers and artists to hear the challenges they faced and the conviction that carried them in their quest for meaningful work.

    “Maruti Suzuki is thrilled to partner with Discovery on this journey across 29 states to discover the new-age India from the perspective of the millennials. It’s an exploration of the changing culture, lifestyle, landscape and the people of the country. I believe the viewers would enjoy this adventurous journey in the newly launched Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza,” said Maruti Suzuki India executive director, marketing and sales R.S Kalsi.

  • Discovery to take viewers on journey across 29 states

    Discovery to take viewers on journey across 29 states

    MUMBAI: Discovery is all set to premiere a new show which will see two road-trippers taking a journey around India. Titled #IndiaMyWay, it goes in search of young Indians, their passion and their continual quest for the unusual, exotic and adventurous side of life. The 13-part series introduces viewers to a range of characters ranging from celebrities, tribal fashionistas, women wrestlers, young scientists, tattoo artists, path breaking entrepreneurs, etc.

    Paloma Monappa, an actor and avid traveler, and Meraj Shah, a travel writer, will share their passion for adventure and exploration of a new India.

    The show starts on 16 October every Sunday at 8 pm. Travelling across all the 29 states, the series brings inspirational stories, a testament to young India’s grit and a fresh way of looking at the world.

    Monappa said, “#Indiamyway has been a thrilling journey that traces juxtaposition of the new with the old. The series encapsulates incredibly liberating and empowering works of young Indians which paints an inspiring picture of the emerging India.”

    The duo will cruise around in a Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, covering over 28,000 kilometers, travelling through the roads of Delhi, trotting lush vineyards of Nashik, taking a safari in the Rann, cruising treacherous terrains of Ladakh, the duo is driven by the irresistible lure of far flung roads on an ultimate expedition.

    “I have been travelling for years, however, this road trip was unique and refreshing. #Indiamyway has been one of the most enriching experiences, offering a stimulating view about the contemporary wave in our socio-cultural structure,” added Shah.

    The road-trippers talk to everyone from photographers to chefs, comedians, sound-designers and artists to hear the challenges they faced and the conviction that carried them in their quest for meaningful work.

    “Maruti Suzuki is thrilled to partner with Discovery on this journey across 29 states to discover the new-age India from the perspective of the millennials. It’s an exploration of the changing culture, lifestyle, landscape and the people of the country. I believe the viewers would enjoy this adventurous journey in the newly launched Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza,” said Maruti Suzuki India executive director, marketing and sales R.S Kalsi.

  • DeBeers brings ‘ek heera aapke heere ke liye’ for festivities

    DeBeers brings ‘ek heera aapke heere ke liye’ for festivities

    MUMBAI: DeBeers, in collaboration with GJEPC, has announced an India-specific advertising campaign for the upcoming festive season to consolidate and enhance the demand for diamonds in India.  DeBeers is a leading diamond company.

    The campaign ‘Ek Heera Aapke Heere Ke Liye’ (Only a diamond is worthy of your diamond) is about the appreciation of a husband for his wife for the little things that she does which makes his life, a life worth living. This campaign has been developed and conceptualized by J. Walter Thompson India (JWT, India) and produced and directed by Joydeep Sarkar of Native Films.

    Conceptualized on the idea of ‘appreciating your wife with a diamond’ the campaign creatively depicts the little things a wife adds in her husband’s life and how his life is a brighter, happier life because of her in it.  The wife is at the core of the commercial and depicts how she is the soul of the household and how everyone’s life is better because of the love care and concern she shows them and how she completes them. It signifies that every woman is the diamond in her husband’s life and is truly deserving of a diamond as appreciation of all the effort she puts in for her family.

    The TVC takes us through the life of a modern Indian woman taking care of her family (her husband, child and in laws) doing what comes naturally to her. Starting with her mischievously waking her husband up in the morning. To making breakfast a fun experience for her child, to ensuring the comfort of the elders of the family.  The ad ends with the husband gifting his wife diamond earrings to show that he appreciates her contribution to his life.

    Forevermark president Sachin Jain, commented, “India is one of the top performing markets for diamond consumption in the world. This campaign will focus on retaining the consumer preference for diamonds while reinforcing consumer confidence and demand for diamond jewellery, in the market.”

    JWT national creative director Tista Sen, added, “Celebrate the woman in your life, this festive season with an exquisite diamond. Through this campaign, we applaud women in their everyday avatar and their everyday multiple roles.”

    The Ek Heera Aapke Heere Ke Liye’ campaign will utilize the national media channels such as TV mainlines, magazines, paid search, online display and video audience buying, key digital sponsorships, social media platforms, and online television. The campaign will debut on National TV with a 60second commercial in Hindi and local languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi and will across entertainment, movies and news channels for a period of three months all through the festive season.

    Download link 
    https://we.tl/FfTml5zsVO

  • DeBeers brings ‘ek heera aapke heere ke liye’ for festivities

    DeBeers brings ‘ek heera aapke heere ke liye’ for festivities

    MUMBAI: DeBeers, in collaboration with GJEPC, has announced an India-specific advertising campaign for the upcoming festive season to consolidate and enhance the demand for diamonds in India.  DeBeers is a leading diamond company.

    The campaign ‘Ek Heera Aapke Heere Ke Liye’ (Only a diamond is worthy of your diamond) is about the appreciation of a husband for his wife for the little things that she does which makes his life, a life worth living. This campaign has been developed and conceptualized by J. Walter Thompson India (JWT, India) and produced and directed by Joydeep Sarkar of Native Films.

    Conceptualized on the idea of ‘appreciating your wife with a diamond’ the campaign creatively depicts the little things a wife adds in her husband’s life and how his life is a brighter, happier life because of her in it.  The wife is at the core of the commercial and depicts how she is the soul of the household and how everyone’s life is better because of the love care and concern she shows them and how she completes them. It signifies that every woman is the diamond in her husband’s life and is truly deserving of a diamond as appreciation of all the effort she puts in for her family.

    The TVC takes us through the life of a modern Indian woman taking care of her family (her husband, child and in laws) doing what comes naturally to her. Starting with her mischievously waking her husband up in the morning. To making breakfast a fun experience for her child, to ensuring the comfort of the elders of the family.  The ad ends with the husband gifting his wife diamond earrings to show that he appreciates her contribution to his life.

    Forevermark president Sachin Jain, commented, “India is one of the top performing markets for diamond consumption in the world. This campaign will focus on retaining the consumer preference for diamonds while reinforcing consumer confidence and demand for diamond jewellery, in the market.”

    JWT national creative director Tista Sen, added, “Celebrate the woman in your life, this festive season with an exquisite diamond. Through this campaign, we applaud women in their everyday avatar and their everyday multiple roles.”

    The Ek Heera Aapke Heere Ke Liye’ campaign will utilize the national media channels such as TV mainlines, magazines, paid search, online display and video audience buying, key digital sponsorships, social media platforms, and online television. The campaign will debut on National TV with a 60second commercial in Hindi and local languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi and will across entertainment, movies and news channels for a period of three months all through the festive season.

    Download link 
    https://we.tl/FfTml5zsVO

  • Hyundai Cricjockey S2 begins hunt for most passionate fan

    Hyundai Cricjockey S2 begins hunt for most passionate fan

    MUMBAI: Hyundai Motor India, in partnership with ESPNcricinfo, has taken the upcoming India vs New Zealand ODI series a notch higher by launching a talent hunt to discover India’s most passionate cricket fan. Through this, cricket fans can showcase their expertise in cricket:

    The Hyundai Cricjockey 2 powered by ESPNcricinfo, will be a multi-phased contest open for fans to submit their entries on the CricJockey website – www.hyundaicricjockey.com by submitting an analysis/commentary on a match scenario identified by the ESPNcricinfo editorial. The best entries from the contestants stand to win goodies every day and will be featured on the CricJockey website.

    Apart from the online edition, the contest will also see an on-ground element with a 4 city ground event at Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune where cricket fanatics will submit their entries along with the extensive digital promotion.

    “Cricket is a game that families and friends experience together, much like the cars Hyundai makes. Hyundai is proud to be the ‘Official Partner’ of BCCI for the next four years across the three formats- Test, One day and T20. We are proud to announce the CricJockey Season 2, giving all ardent cricket fans a chance to exhibit their commentary skills,” said Hyundai Motor India general manager and group head marketing Puneet Anand.

    The eminent jury includes former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar, ESPNcricinfo editor in chief Sambit Bal, senior editor Gaurav Kalra and other prominent members from ESPNcricinfo editorial team. They will identify the top eight who will proceed to the semi-finals. These eight contestants will battle it out to reach the finale where one will win the coveted title at the ESPNcricinfo studios. The winner will be declared on 29 October.

    ESPN Digital Media India head of sales Akshaya Kolhe added, “We know that cricket fans in India are among the most passionate and vocal in the world. CricJockey is a platform that gives a chance to cricket fans to transition beyond an ultimate fan and become a potential professional talent. With season 2 our association with Hyundai Motor India has gone further ahead, bringing one of the most existing and entertaining contest to our Fans. This only further reinforces our commitment to our fans by providing the best of “Game around the Game” content.”

    The top three finalists will be tested on their cricket analysis skill by participating on the special post-match review segment for the ODI played between India and New Zealand on the match day. They will be acquainted with the entire cricket reporting process and will go through the grinds of covering cricket matches alongside the ESPNcricinfo editorial team.

    The first season of Hyundai Cricjockey gave the cricket fans of the country a platform to showcase their expertise in the game and their ability to comprehend the nuances of the sport in front of a jury made up of the ESPNcricinfo editorial. The 2013 edition saw more than 8000 entries from across India where the best of the talent fought it out to claim the title.

  • Hyundai Cricjockey S2 begins hunt for most passionate fan

    Hyundai Cricjockey S2 begins hunt for most passionate fan

    MUMBAI: Hyundai Motor India, in partnership with ESPNcricinfo, has taken the upcoming India vs New Zealand ODI series a notch higher by launching a talent hunt to discover India’s most passionate cricket fan. Through this, cricket fans can showcase their expertise in cricket:

    The Hyundai Cricjockey 2 powered by ESPNcricinfo, will be a multi-phased contest open for fans to submit their entries on the CricJockey website – www.hyundaicricjockey.com by submitting an analysis/commentary on a match scenario identified by the ESPNcricinfo editorial. The best entries from the contestants stand to win goodies every day and will be featured on the CricJockey website.

    Apart from the online edition, the contest will also see an on-ground element with a 4 city ground event at Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune where cricket fanatics will submit their entries along with the extensive digital promotion.

    “Cricket is a game that families and friends experience together, much like the cars Hyundai makes. Hyundai is proud to be the ‘Official Partner’ of BCCI for the next four years across the three formats- Test, One day and T20. We are proud to announce the CricJockey Season 2, giving all ardent cricket fans a chance to exhibit their commentary skills,” said Hyundai Motor India general manager and group head marketing Puneet Anand.

    The eminent jury includes former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar, ESPNcricinfo editor in chief Sambit Bal, senior editor Gaurav Kalra and other prominent members from ESPNcricinfo editorial team. They will identify the top eight who will proceed to the semi-finals. These eight contestants will battle it out to reach the finale where one will win the coveted title at the ESPNcricinfo studios. The winner will be declared on 29 October.

    ESPN Digital Media India head of sales Akshaya Kolhe added, “We know that cricket fans in India are among the most passionate and vocal in the world. CricJockey is a platform that gives a chance to cricket fans to transition beyond an ultimate fan and become a potential professional talent. With season 2 our association with Hyundai Motor India has gone further ahead, bringing one of the most existing and entertaining contest to our Fans. This only further reinforces our commitment to our fans by providing the best of “Game around the Game” content.”

    The top three finalists will be tested on their cricket analysis skill by participating on the special post-match review segment for the ODI played between India and New Zealand on the match day. They will be acquainted with the entire cricket reporting process and will go through the grinds of covering cricket matches alongside the ESPNcricinfo editorial team.

    The first season of Hyundai Cricjockey gave the cricket fans of the country a platform to showcase their expertise in the game and their ability to comprehend the nuances of the sport in front of a jury made up of the ESPNcricinfo editorial. The 2013 edition saw more than 8000 entries from across India where the best of the talent fought it out to claim the title.

  • Goldman Sachs to up stake in cable TV MSO DEN Networks; to invest Rs 142.43 crore

    Goldman Sachs to up stake in cable TV MSO DEN Networks; to invest Rs 142.43 crore

    MUMBAI: MSO DEN Networks has proved the naysayers – who have been carping that the Indian cable TV sector is as insipid as dry sawdust – wrong. The company’s existing shareholder Goldman Sachs is picking up 1.58 crore equity shares at a price of Rs 90 per share via a preferential allotment. This will take Goldman Sachs’ equity stake in DEN up from 17.79 per cent to 24.49 per cent and involve an injection of much needed capital to the tune of Rs 142.43 crore. The divestment is expected to trim promoter stake in the company to 37 percent.

    Board approval for this transaction came through yesterday and the company is seeking its shareholders’ nod through an extraordinary general meeting which is scheduled for 14 October 2016. DEN Networks informed the BSE about its intentions yesterday.

    Media observers say that the Indian cable TV ecosystem – including the government, the regulator TRAI, broadcasters, MSOs and cable TV operators – has stumbled in the digitization process which was mandated by the ministry of information and broadcasting four years back. They have also been saying that investor sentiment towards the sector is pretty weak. Shares of most leading Indian cable TV companies have been depressed, and have been parked at lows.

    However, DEN Networks has been taking steps to correct the perception. It has brought back its CEO SN Sharma who has since been working on raising revenues and profitability.

    The Goldman investment should come as a shot in the arm for DEN Networks as well as the Indian cable TV sector which is grappling with reinventing its business model.

    The company’s CFO Manish Dawar told CNBC TV18 that the company will be utilising the funds to invest in the broadband business as well as to reduce its debt. Earlier, this month, it had got board approval to demerge its broadband/internet service provider (ISP) business undertaking into its wholly owned subsidiary Skynet Cable Network . The company’s ISP business had a turnover of around Rs 40 crore in FY-2016.

    Dawar told the business news channel that DEN’s performance is on the upswing. “In Q1 we have already turned positive on EBITDA basis and if we were to look at I am talking about pre-activation which is what the investors wanted to kind of look at, so, therefore Q1 on cable business we are already EBITDA positive. Broadband is progressing very well, we have been able to reduce our losses tremendously over the last one year,” he said. “TV-Shop we are very close to break even. So, if you were to look at on a consolidated basis also, in the current quarter and I am talking about on a like-to- like basis, last quarter we were at minus (–) Rs 5 crore and the current quarter is positive Rs 5 crore on consolidated basis.”

    Investors greeted the Goldman Sachs announcement with delight. DEN Networks shares hit a high of Rs 85 during day trading yesterday only to close at Rs 80.85 – a rise of 3.5 per cent. The company’s share had hit a 52 week high of Rs 133 (21 September 2015) and it had dropped to a low of Rs 60.50 on 15 February 2016.

    The company also made an investor presentation yesterday in which it stated that its digital rollout is progressing well. Of the 13 million subscribers it has, almost 9.8 million of them have upgraded to digital in Q1 2017. Five million of these are in DAS Phase I & II areas with the remainder being in Phase III and phase IV.