ITV

Tag: India

  • CNN sees integration of services as way to maintain position as global news leader

    CNN sees integration of services as way to maintain position as global news leader

    Three weeks into his new role at the helm of CNN’s operations in the south Asian region, Ian Macintosh, senior vice-president, CNN International, was at pains to point out how far down the road the organisation had come in its attempts to become a television news service with truly global perspective.

     

    To maintain its position as the world’s preeminent news breaking channel, CNN is integrating its traditional news gathering activities with cutting edge interactive technologies on all platforms in the Asia Pacific, Macintosh said.

     

    The regional newsgathering and production centre in Hong Kong provides network programming and on-line production for CNN’s 34 television, radio and new media services worldwide, Macintosh said.

     

    Macintosh stressed that being multi-skilled is central to the digital age. And CNN is using that strategy to position itself strongly in the market.

     

    Macintosh is in India to get an overview of the channel from various quarters. He dwelt at length with media persons at an informal interaction in Mumbai today on the effort at CNN to become truly global in its perspective.

     

    He admitted that his organisation still had a way to go to get rid of the perception that it saw the world through American eyes. “It’s not just a quantitative shift in that CNN International has 50 non-Americans in key positions, but a qualitative one which is reflected in how we cover events,” Macintosh said.

     

    As a case in point, he mentioned some of the reports on Afghanistan that the CNN team had carried out which went much beyond the coverage of the Taliban and its excesses.

     

    Talking specifically on the South Asia channel which was launched last year, Macintosh said the aim was to develop it into one sensitive to the needs of the subcontinent. To achieve that goal, one must understand the market in the region, and his visit was an effort in that direction, he added.

     

    On the question of penetration of the channel in India, Anshuman Misra, who oversees the distribution and marketing of CNN International, said after the channel was encrypted it reached five and a half million homes, mainly in urban centres. Mumbai was where CNN has its highest viewership, Mishra said.

  • Nickelodeon to inspire kids to save the planet through ‘The Big Help’

    Nickelodeon to inspire kids to save the planet through ‘The Big Help’

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon’s ‘The Big Help’ is back to encourage kids to come forward and take steps towards a greener environment. An international initiative in its fifth year in India, The Big Help, has helped millions of kids across 27 countries make a difference to the planet with their efforts. The pro-socio movement aims at inspiring children to take real action to save the Mother Earth.

    As one of the leading kids’ franchise, Nickelodeon’s endeavor is to motivate kids to play an active role in saving the planet. Kids can log on to https://www.facebook.com/nickindia and take the BIG HELP PLEDGE for a greener environment. The pledge will reflect on the users’ profile page thereby encouraging their friends to come forward and participate in the movement. The month long initiative will culminate on Earth Hour on March 29th, with the city that has the maximum number of kids taking the pledge being honoured as ‘India’s Greenest City’.

    With the aim to address serious environmental issues in a manner that’s relatable to kids, Nickelodeon’s popular toonslike Ninja, MotuPatlu, Dora will come together to share some of their favourite ‘green tips’.What’s more? A ‘Green Facts’ tab on the Big Help page will give users fascinating facts about trees and the environment that one may have never heard before.

    Commenting on the channel’s latest undertaking, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, EVP & Business Head, Kids Cluster, Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. said “The Big Help aims to make children the change agents of today in order to build a better tomorrow. . We at Nickelodeon truly believe that the future lies in the hands of today’s kids and hence as a responsible broadcaster, it’s extremely important to instill the values of environment conservation and protection from a young age. With The Big Help, we aim to provide kids with a platform where they not only can voice their opinion but also take charge and lead the way.”

    Rajneel Kumar, VP & Business Head- Digital Media, Viacom18 talks about the digital angle to the campaign- “Today’s kidsare online and what better way to involve them than on that platform.  We have reached out to them there by getting them to pledge online &help raise awareness about the global environmental issues affecting our world. The entire campaign is designed in amanner that ensures our young viewers are aware, take proactive steps towards a greener tomorrow& spread the word in their digital community.”

    This year, the entire Nickelodeon franchise – Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr. and Teen Nick is coming together to strengthen the movement and take it to the next level. Join Nickelodeon’sThe Big Help and let’s create a greener and a brighter future, together!

     

  • IPL 7 to be held in UAE, Bangladesh & India from 16 April to 1 June

    IPL 7 to be held in UAE, Bangladesh & India from 16 April to 1 June

    MUMBAI: The wait is finally over for the cricket enthusiasts. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the seventh edition of the Indian Premiere League (IPL) will start on Wednesday, 16 April 2014, and conclude on Sunday, 1 June 2014. 

     

    From Wednesday 16 April to Wednesday 30 April, at least 16 matches will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). For the period from Thursday 1 May to Monday 12 May, BCCI has approached the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, seeking permission to play IPL matches in India in cities where the polling has concluded in the respective state.

     

    In the release issued to the press, BCCI remarked that it is extremely conscious of the various complexities involved, but hopes for a favourable consideration. The Board will abide by the decision of the authorities in this regard. If it is not possible to play in India during this period, IPL matches will be held in Bangladesh. 

     

    From Tuesday 13 May (once polling has concluded in all states), the remaining league matches plus the Playoffs will be played in India. There will be no matches scheduled on the counting day, that is Friday, 16 May. 

     

    ICC Chief Executive David Richardson today welcomed the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to stage Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “The BCCI’s decision to stage the first part of the IPL 2014 season in the UAE is great news for the people of the UAE and the region. It will complete a remarkable season of cricket in the UAE, which has already seen the successful staging of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2014.”

     

    Richardson, who is based in the UAE at the ICC headquarters in Dubai Sports City, said the ICC was ready to support the successful staging of the IPL 2014 matches in its home country.

     

    “Recognising the importance of the integrity of the competition, the ICC will provide its full support for the matches in the UAE, including through the provision of anti-corruption services. It will also be a good opportunity for both the BCCI and the ICC to share knowledge and experience as we both strive to deliver memorable events to cricket fans around the world.”

  • National Geographic Channel becomes the most liked TV channel on Facebook in India

    National Geographic Channel becomes the most liked TV channel on Facebook in India

    Keeping pace with digital times, leading infotainment channel National Geographic Channel has established itself as the most liked TV channel on Facebook. With  more than 66 lakhs likes and around 6 lakh people talking about it, the NGC Facebook page is currently the most interactive page on Facebook amongst all GECs, infotainment and news channels.

    Nat Geo interacts with its audiences and keeps them engaged through its path breaking and specially developed content for the digital medium. Interesting and breath-taking imagery and video sharing has contributed to its success amongst fans across the country. The page also brings fans closer to the iconic infotainment channel and satiates their hunger for knowledge through exciting contests, games and gratifications in form of classic Nat Geo souvenirs and memorabilia.

    Ms. Debarpita Banerjee, Vice President, Marketing, NGC and Fox Traveller said, “It’s great news for all of us and we thank our viewers for contributing to our success. The page is a perfect platform for likeminded brands to reach and engage with their target audience. The exciting communication on a day-to-day basis attracts and retains fans from across the country. With each post reaching out to over 6,48,961 people, the page serves as the perfect medium for us to communicate with our viewers. “

     

  • Ten Sports eyes global market with ICC T-20 World Cup

    Ten Sports eyes global market with ICC T-20 World Cup

    MUMBAI: Ten Sports is busy gearing up for the ICC T-20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from 16 March to 6 April.

     

    In case you’re wondering, Star Sports holds exclusive broadcast rights for the T-20 World Cup, but has sub-let to Ten Sports – the only sports broadcaster present in Pakistan – rights for broadcasting in Pakistan matches featuring the team from the neighbouring country.

     

    So, Ten Sports Pakistan, which beams off Intelsat 20 using MPEG-4 system, will be the home for all Pakistan matches in the tournament.

     

    Informs Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi: “We are the only sports broadcaster present in Pakistan, and we will be telecasting all Pakistan matches on our channel during the ICC T-20 World Cup,” before adding, “Advertisers have really responded well to the tourney and we have already generated close to $7.5 million and are targeting $20 million in ad revenues.”

     

    With a state-of-the-art post-production studio and an expert panel for in-depth match analysis, Ten Sports is well equipped for the series and is already planning a show from its Noida set up. “We will be putting a lot of emphasis on graphics and analytics during pre and post match shows as well as the one during the match,” explains Sethi. “We are bullish about the T-20 World Cup and want to ensure the same kind of programming quality in our Pakistan set up as is with India in recent years.”

     

    Recently, Ten Sports also inked a seven-year deal to broadcast Sri Lanka Cricket’s international matches till March 2020, which includes multiple media platforms and global sponsorship rights.

     

    “Our main focus is on creating a superlative viewership experience and compelling content, by ensuring it has a world-class programming and production aspect,” stresses Sethi. “We have also syndicated a lot of our content; we have already signed a deal with MP Silva for content syndication in the US and they will ensure that the Asian community gets to watch all the matches played by Sri Lanka. All Sri Lanka vs. England matches have been syndicated to BSkyB in the UK.”

      
    Ten Sports currently holds rights for four cricket boards including South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the West Indies. It also holds long-term rights for WWE, UEFA Champions League, French League 1, US Open Tennis, ATP & WTA, and Capital One Cup, European Tour & Asian Tour Golf, among other exciting properties. The network will also be broadcasting the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games this year.

  • Kellogg’s Special K, world’s leading cereal brand signs on Deepika Padukone as the new face

    Kellogg’s Special K, world’s leading cereal brand signs on Deepika Padukone as the new face

    MUMBAI: Special K from the house of Kellogg’s, the world’s leading producer of ready-to eat cereal and convenience foods, has signed on the diva Deepika Padukone as the new face of Special K.
     

    Special K, the no. 1 brand for Kellogg’s globally has announced its association with the coveted actor in a well-timed fashion with the wedding season just around the corner. Women want to look their best while preparing for a wedding. Based on this insight, Kellogg’s Special K, along with their stunning new brand ambassador, Deepika, is presenting women with a Special K 2 Week Challenge as part of a healthy lifestyle to help them kick-start a weight management journey. The challenge aims to prepare women for a bold, beautiful and contemporary look for weddings through a simple challenge that helps them kick-start into a weight management journey.
     

    Talking about the association with Special K, Deepika Padukone says, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be associated with Kellogg’s Special K. I personally have always been a firm believer of the importance of a combination of balanced eating with regular exercise for a healthy lifestyle. Special K stands for just that and has for a long time partnered women to kick-start their weight management journey. Through this Special K 2 week challenge, I look forward to partnering with similar women and share our experiences along the journey.”
     

    After delivering a slew of mega hits in 2013, Deepika has carved a niche for herself in the Indian film industry and is known to constantly reinvent herself. Being a state level badminton player, Deepika, has always been a health and fitness enthusiast. For her, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and she ensures that she follows a regular balanced diet and exercise routine every day.

     
    Commenting on this announcement, Harpreet Singh Tibb, Marketing Director, Kellogg India, says, “There was no doubt in our mind about bringing Deepika Padukone on board to represent Special K. Deepika is a sought after celebrity, who not only stands for high fashion but is looked up to for her healthy lifestyle. We are extremely proud to associate with such a talented actor who represents the brand’s values impeccably. We are very confident that our audience will effectively connect with Deepika, as she has always taken it upon herself to maintain healthy habits.”

  • SONY SIX launches ‘NBA Inside Stuff: India Edition’

    SONY SIX launches ‘NBA Inside Stuff: India Edition’

    MUMBAI: For the first time in India, SONY SIX, India’s premier sports and entertainment channel, will launch a version of NBA Inside Stuff, the ground-breaking sports and entertainment all-access show, exclusively for audiences in India. The program includes behind the scenes coverage of the NBA and its players along with highlights of the league’s activities in India.

     
    Derived from the popular American television show which airs on NBA TV, the Indian version will have its own local spin of in-depth reporting highlighting some of the NBA’s biggest stars and most exciting teams, all packaged with a fresh new look to enthral Indian sports fan.  The show will air on SONY SIX every Sunday at 12:00pm with the first episode airing on Sunday, 2nd March.   Known for its trademark off-the-court features with NBA players, NBA Inside Stuff will provide fans with a unique perspective of the game. The trailblazing weekly show will tip off its first episode with a unique look at the recently concluded NBA All-Star 2014 in New Orleans.

    The 30 minute weekly show will be co-hosted by Manish Nawani and Neelam Sivia, who will take fans through an inside tour of the NBA which includes behind-the-scenes activities and off-court features about the NBA and its biggest stars. The show is designed to be interactive with the fans of the game and will also act as a platform for sport enthusiasts to sample the best of the NBA globally and basketball in India.

    On the eve of the show’s launch, Mr. Prasana Krishnan, EVP and Business head, Sony SIX said: “The show is a great hit internationally and we are sure that the familiarity supported by our localized content will help permeate the craze for NBA in the country. The show will enable viewers to connect with the sport even further. This introduction signifies our commitment to basketball and we will ensure that the Indian fan has every opportunity to enjoy the sport and its periphery in the best possible way. ”
     

    Yannick Colaco, Managing Director, NBA India, said “SONY SIX is a great partner that continues to provide new ways to bring the NBA and the game of basketball to Indian audiences. This show will provide great insight into the NBA on and off the court, which will help lead to further viewership and generate greater involvement in the game amongst fans.”

    Sony SIX is the exclusive television partner of the NBA in India.  SIX broadcasts 14 games per week during the NBA season as part of its ‘NBA Mornings on SIX’ campaign.  SIX will broadcast over 300 live regular season games in India, as well as NBA All-Star, The NBA Playoffs, and NBA Finals.  This, along with NBA Inside Stuff, represents the most comprehensive programming ever offered to fans in India.

  • Civolution to provide watermarking technology to BARC

    Civolution to provide watermarking technology to BARC

    MUMBAI: Civolution, a Netherlands-based provider of technology and solutions for identifying, managing and monetising content has announced that the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has contracted it to provide its watermarking technology to underpin one of the world’s largest audience measurement platforms.

     

    The announcement comes shortly after BARC chose the TV meter system of Mediametrie, the audience measurement and survey company for television, radio, cinema and the internet. The two companies will build the technology framework for audience measurement solution for BARC.

     

    BARC addresses a population of over 1 billion, of which over 600 million have access to television in some form. This will be the first fully digital audience measurement system employed directly by the Indian broadcasters, advertisers and ad agencies and is scheduled to commence operations towards the end of this year.

     

    The audience measurement system – which has already successfully been deployed by Mediametrie in multiple TV markets – relies on Civolution’s audio watermarking coding technology for automated content identification and integrates seamlessly into Mediametrie’s TV meter system for panellists’ equipment and panellists’ data processing. It provides broadcasters with a detailed analysis of their exposure to the public, whether by the number of households tuning in to the programme or the amount of time spent watching each piece of content.

     

    “India has one of the largest TV audiences in the world so it was critical for us to create an audience measurement system that is gold standard,” said BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta. “By leveraging Civolution and Mediametrie’s expertise in audience tracking, technology and analytics we can now study viewers’ TV habits in precise detail, enabling broadcasters and advertisers to implement efficient strategies to reach their target audience.”

     

    Civolution’s audio watermark is embedded in the TV’s sound track prior to broadcast. Upon airing, the content is then identified by Mediametrie’s TV meter, in real-time. In addition to granular measurement of the content being watched, the solution features support for catch-up TV. The technology provides cross-platform audience measurement and will enable mobile device measurement, triggering the creation of new services and the reduction of operating costs. In parallel, the same watermark infrastructure deployed by Indian broadcasters could be used to synchronize with great accuracy their own interactive second screen applications.

     

    ”With so many new ways of watching TV content in this multi-screen universe, precise audience measurement has become increasingly complex. Audience measurement services must now report more accurately and reliably, from a larger number of channels, delivered through a fast-changing and diverse mix of broadcast platforms, and consumed either in real time or time-shifted” said Civolution CEO Alex Terpstra.

     

    ”Through our close collaboration with Mediametrie, we have devised a powerful solution that provides accurate and reliable audience data that will allow BARC to help broadcasters plan, entertain and monetize their TV audiences,” added Civolution SVP Watermarking Solutions Jean Michel Masson.

     

    Mediametrie Director of Audiences Measurement Benoit Cassaigne added: ”We are very enthusiastic to embark on this project with Civolution and its watermarking technology, which is definitely the most powerful and error-free content detection technique available for TV audience measurement.  This means we are future-proofed in the fast-changing world of TV.  Mediametrie has relied on Civolution’s technology for many years.”

  • Filmmakers in India and Canada to explore co-productions

    Filmmakers in India and Canada to explore co-productions

    NEW DELHI: Filmmakers in India and Canada are expected to benefit in pooling their creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources for the co-production in the years to come.

     

    This follows the signing of an India and Canada Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement that will enable Indian and Canadian film producers to utilise a platform for collaboration on various facets of film making.

     

    The agreement is expected to lead to the transparent funding of Film Production and will boost export of Indian Films into the Canadian Market.

     

    The agreement is expected to deepen the engagement between the critical sectors of the film industries of both countries there by providing a new chapter of collaboration. The agreement was signed by Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Bimal Julka and Canadian High Commissioner to India Stewart Beck.

     

    The agreement will also lead to exchange of art and culture among the two countries and create goodwill and better understanding among the people of both the countries which will boost cultural ties between the two countries.

     

    The agreement will provide an opportunity to create and showcase India’s ‘Soft Power’ and lead to employment generation among artistic, technical and non-technical human resources engaged in the film production including post-production and its marketing.

     

    Since the agreement is expected to boost the utilisation of Indian locales for shooting, it will increase the visibility/prospects of India as a preferred film shooting destination across the globe and will lead to the inflow of Foreign Exchange into the country.

     

    In the past, similar agreements have been signed with Italy and the United Kingdom in 2005, Germany and Brazil in 2007, France in 2010, New Zealand in 2011, and Poland and Spain in 2012.

     

    The co-production agreements signed so far seek to achieve economic, cultural and diplomatic goals. For filmmakers, the key attraction of a treaty co-production is that it qualifies as a national production in each of the partner nations and can access benefits that are available to the local film and television industry in each country. Benefits accruing from such agreements include government financial assistance, tax concessions and inclusion in domestic television broadcast quotas.

     

    India’s co-production agreements are unique for international producers as the country offers technically qualified film crew at reasonable rates, a large pool of talented actors and the multitude of shooting locations. The other benefits are that the co production is treated at par as a national film and is eligible for the National Film Awards and the Indian Panorama section of International Film Festival of India. Such films also get the opportunity to be released through the Indian distribution network, and hence co production opens up the Indian consumer market to the foreign producer.

  • BBC World News survey reveals impact of mobile advertising on affluent consumers

    BBC World News survey reveals impact of mobile advertising on affluent consumers

    MUMBAI: BBC World News and BBC.com/news have today released the results of a global study – the first of its kind – examining the usage of mobile devices by consumers around the world.

    The study surveyed 6,000 smartphone owners in Australia, Germany, Sweden, India, Hong Kong and the US. It compared the habits of affluent consumers – the highest 20% income earners in each country – to those of the general population.

    The results reveal the increasing importance of smartphones to affluent consumers and demonstrate the extent to which mobile devices are integrated into their personal and, crucially, their business lives, as improved technology enables greater engagement with content. The study also provides clear evidence that affluent consumers, who make up a large proportion of the BBC World News and BBC.com/newsaudience, are significantly more receptive to mobile advertising than the general population.  

     

    Key findings include:

    •51% of affluent consumers use their mobile phone for business, compared to 40% of the general population

    •39% of affluent consumers access the internet via their mobile devices at least once an hour, which is 18% higher than the general population

    •Affluent consumers are 18% more likely to share their location to get relevant services than the general population

    •Affluent consumers are more likely to prefer mobile devices to desktop for news-related content than the general population.  The contrast is particularly notable for current affairs or breaking news, where the figure is15% higher for affluent consumers than the general population, and business/finance news, where it is28% higher

    •News apps are the most commonly used mobile phone apps for affluent consumers, whilst social network apps are favoured by the general population

    •A third of affluent consumers agree that, if a brand wants to be modern and dynamic, it needs to be on mobile – 15% higher than the general population

    •Mobile advertising is twice as effective as the already proven advertising medium desktop in driving key brand metrics such as awareness, favourability and purchase intent amongst the total population. This figure rises to four times as effective for affluent consumers

    •High income earners are as positive towards advertising on mobile (19%) as desktop (18%). The percentage who are happy to see ads on mobile websites rises to 41% for sites where the content is free.

     

    India

    •55% of affluent Indian consumers access the internet hourly in India on mobile devices vs. 39% of total affluent consumers

    •Affluent Indian consumers are far more likely to use their phone for business (79%) vs. 51% for total affluent consumers

    •Over half of affluent consumers in India agree that their smartphone is the primary tool for organising their personal life

    •58% of affluent consumers in India agree that an increasing amount of their work is being accomplished on their mobile device (compared to 35% all affluent consumers)

    •56% of affluent consumers in India prefer to use their mobile device to access news, rather than using a desktop (30% for all affluent consumers)

    •52% of affluent consumers in India are more likely to share stories on mobile rather than desktop (compared 31% for all affluent consumers).

    •56% of affluent Indian consumers agreed that to be seen as modern and dynamic a brand needs to be on mobile (compared to 30% all affluent consumers).

    The survey emphasises the growing trend for news consumption on mobile platforms and reflects the results of the BBC’s 2012 study of news consumption -http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldnews/news-consumption.html- in which 59% of affluent consumers expected to consume more news on their phones over the next five years.
     

    When asked which single device they prefer to use for news, the number of affluent consumers who name the mobile phone has risen by 15% since 2012 and tablet is up by 9%.In contrast, the amount of people who say they prefer desktop has decreased by 17%.

    Additionally, 2012’s survey found that news consumption on mobiles was mainly restricted to scanning news headlines. In comparison, 34% of new handset users* surveyed in the new study say they now dive deeper when consuming news and are likely to read additional articles connected the original piece. This is 42% higher than for those using older handsets. Owners of the latest handsets are also 10% more likely than the general population to watch news video or stream content on their mobile phones.

    Jim Egan, CEO of BBC Global News Ltd said: “The rapidly growing importance of mobile to our global audiences is one of the big themes for our industry and we are constantly working to create the best mobile browsing experience, be that with the introduction of our international BBC News and Sports apps, or on-going responsive design innovations. This new research reveals significant change in mobile consumption – people are delving deeper into stories on their mobiles, consuming more video and, significantly, growing accustomed to advertising on their mobiles. This large study provides compelling evidence that mobile advertising works with affluent mobile consumers in particular and that has big implications for publishers and advertisers alike.”

    Notes to editors

    *New/latest handsets defined as those released since September 2012. The study was conducted by Millward Brown. BBC World News and bbc.com/news are owned and operated by BBC Global News Ltd, a member of the BBC’s commercial group of companies.

    BBC World News is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and over 360 million households and 1.8 million hotel rooms. The channel’s content is also available on 175 cruise ships, 53 airlines and 22 mobile phone networks. For further information on how to receive BBC World News, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit bbc.com/tvschedule, bbc.com is one of the most respected brands on the internet and complements BBC World News in its offering of high quality, up-to-the minute international news, business, sports, weather, lifestyle, technology content and in-depth analysis. Launched in November 2007, the site attracts 58 million unique visitors each month.

    BBC Advertising sells advertising and sponsorship solutions on behalf of BBC World News and bbc.com. For more information on BBC Advertising see http://advertising.bbcworldwide.com.

     

    Click here for the full release