ITV

Tag: India’s Got Talent

  • Sony Entertainment Television acquires rights of India’s Got Talent

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television has acquired the telecast rights of India’s Got Talent, which is the Indian adaptation of the international format titled ‘Got Talent’. Previously Colors held the sole rights to telecast the show in India. 

    Since the airing of America’s Got Talent in 2006, the format ‘Got Talent’ was successfully adapted in over 70 countries. The show aims to bring pure talent to the fore, and it also reiterates that age is just a number. India’s Got Talent is a popular format where solo or group performance is welcomed, irrespective of social status or gender. 

    With an esteemed panel of jury to shortlist qualifying talent, thousands of hopeful aspirants from across the country are followed by viewers who vote to decide the final winner; the format gives a platform for many to showcase their inherent talent, thereby opening a gateway to worldwide opportunities.

    “India’s Got Talent as a format holds great potential, and Sony Entertainment Television’s stronghold in the non-fiction, talent-led reality show formats gives us yet another opportunity to resonate with the audience. Having acquired the rights from Fremantle, we are gearing up for an exciting new season of India’s Got Talent and we look forward to showcasing the best talent in our country,” said Sony Entertainment Television and digital business head- content Ashish Golwalkar. 

    Fremantle India managing director Aradhana Bhola said, “At Fremantle, we are delighted to be partnering with Sony Entertainment Television on yet another of our successful formats, India’s Got Talent. With its inherent diversity and inclusivity, the show is a true and unique representation of the talent of the people of India. It is our sincere hope that the forthcoming season will continue to offer irresistible entertainment to the audience who have given it so much love through the years.” 

  • Hindi GECs flirted with formats, sensed OTT challenge

    Hindi GECs flirted with formats, sensed OTT challenge

    MUMBAI: When it came to content, OTT platforms captured the zeitgeist of 2018. Premium digital video content was relentlessly rolled out by the likes of Amazon Prime, Netflix, ALT Balaji, Hotstar, Voot and Zee5, keeping the audiences hooked at all times. Naturally, the band of programmers at some of India’s biggest broadcast networks felt the heat as a new wave of content competition hit India. Heads of Hindi GECs pulled out all stops in order to stay ahead of the game and keep their viewers happy. Thankfully for them, the cord-cutting trend, prevalent in several countries, didn’t turn to India. However, the sheer scale and quality of OTT content audiences were exposed to this year should be a cause for worry entertainment channels.

    ‘TV isn’t dying, in fact, both TV and OTT is growing simultaneously,’ was a line often heard this year. That’s perhaps the reason broadcasters remained confident that daily soaps, fiction and non-fiction shows on TV would continue to command viewership numbers.

    The advent OTT players increased the overall demand for content. While Indian broadcasters put out over 100,000 hours of content annually across formats and languages, newer entrants continued to pump in more cash per episode (though for much smaller quantities of content) and tried to snap up the best available talent. 

    The overall cost of content rose by almost two to three per cent of the broadcasters’ top line. With OTT companies refusing to take their foot off the pedal, broadcasters have no choice but to pay up. However, if their bid for quality programming fails to generate higher viewership which can be monetized better, broadcasters may not pursue quality, and stick to current cost metrics.

    As far as content consumption was concerned, regional content too made its mark this year. While Hindi language consumption remains the country’s preferred choice, growth was fastidiously led by regional content. Backing this up with some facts, it was reported that the daily tune-ins on TV by the HSM led to 68.4 per cent, whereas in the South market it led to 78.3 per cent. Simultaneously, the advertisement expenditure in FY18, Hindi GECs declined by nine per cent as compared to an increase of 5.4 per cent in on regional channels. 

    It was also a year of full surprises for the Hindi GECs, especially on the leadership front. Top-notch industry executives decided to call it quits including veteran Colors CEO Raj Nayak who dropped the bombshell of his Viacom18 exit after a distinguished seven-year stint with the media and entertainment conglomerate. Another prominent personality Discovery India and South Asia head Karan Bajaj also called it a day. Industry insiders believe the bespectacled Bajaj timed his exit to perfection, stepping aside when it mattered most. Both of them haven’t hinted at what gigs they are likely to take up next. Another heavyweight – Deepak Rajadhyaksha – who was heading Zee TV, turned to Viacom18 with his mantle being handed over to the broadcaster’s English cluster head Aparna Bhosle.

    The GECs also flirted with formats and played around with show timings in an attempt to infuse life into programming. Here's a quick recap of how some of India's most-loved Hindi GECs tried to stay ahead in a cluttered segment.

    Colors

    Having a stronghold in the mythological and fantasy drama genre, it revived Naagin for season three giving it an 8 pm slot on the weekend. Another supernatural drama Tantra by Swastik Productions was aired on weekdays at 11 pm. Rashmi Sharma Telefilms’ Vish Ya Amrit: Sitaara, a supernatural thriller, was given the weekday 10.30 pm slot.

    Two leading ladies of not just Viacom18, but the entire industry, added more feathers to their caps. Manisha Sharma, who was in charge of Colors, was elevated as the chief content officer – Hindi mass entertainment. She heads both Colors and Rishtey. Kids’ cluster head Nina Jaipuria’s portfolio further expanded to include both kids TV network and Hindi.

    The channel reshuffled its programming line-up post the launch of historical saga Dastaan-E-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali, Monday-Saturday at 8.30 pm, by replacing the drama series Udaan which was shifted to 7 pm slot. Internet Wala Love, which aired at 7 pm was moved to 6.30 pm time band while Savitri Devi College and Hospital, which aired at the 6.30 pm slot was called off.

    After a two year hiatus, Colors came back with the launch of season 8 of reality show India’s Got Talent, to be shown on weekends at 10 pm. The show was planned to replace horror anthology television series, Kaun Hai? That was produced by Contiloe Pictures and was scheduled to air every Friday to Saturday at 10.30 pm. Also, another home-grown reality show Entertainment Ki Raat season 2 was given the weekend 9 pm slot, promoted from its debut season slot of 10.30 pm. The show was replaced with the reality show Rising Star produced by Optimystix Entertainment. Bigg Boss 12 was also launched but with a new time-slot at 9 pm.

    Sony

    Hindi GEC Sony Sab started a new weekend slot titled ‘Sab Ka Weekend Plan’ with two new shows India Ke Mast Kalandar – Atrangi Hain Ye!and Namune. The channel aired the former show every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm whereas the latter was at 9 pm. The Kapil Sharma Show is all set to make a comeback after a hiatus of more than a year. The channel had stopped airing fresh episodes of the show from September 2017.

    Taking Colors’ Bigg Boss 12 head-on was Sony’s tentpole show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) season 10 at 9 pm. Following that, the channel launched two fictional drama Patiala Babes and Ladies Special post-KBC. The channel pulled the plug on Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai, which was aired at 9.30 pm, following poor ratings.

    The network also announced that Sony Pictures Network India’s (SPNI) newly launched content production arm Studio NXT will focus on creating premium, high investment content that can also travel outside India. Headed by Sony Entertainment Television (SET) EVP and business head Danish Khan, the content studio began its journey with Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) season 10 which was co-produced with Big Synergy.

    The channel is experimenting with new shows and formats in the time slot starting 8.30 pm. The channel aired comedy-drama Main Maike Chali Jaungi, replacing Dus Ka Dum and Zindagi Ke Crossroads. Dus Ka Dum aired on Monday and Tuesday while Zindagi Ke Crossroads aired from Wednesday to Friday.

    Zee

    Zee TV’s primetime offering included Manmohini, produced by LSD Films, every Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm. &TV launched a live singing reality show for kids Love Me India and fantasy show Vikram Betaal ki Rahasya Gaatha. Zee TV launched a new fiction show named Tujse hai Raabta on 3 September, weekdays at 8.30 pm, produced by Full House Media.

    ZEEL elevated Aparna Bhosle as the business head of its flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV. Bhosle headed the premium and FTA GEC cluster. The move comes in the wake of Deepak Rajadhyaksha’s exit from the company. He was the deputy business head at Zee TV. Rajadhyaksha joined Viacom18 as business head of Colors Marathi and Colors Gujarati.

    Zee also took three of its shows abroad for a remake, in collaboration with African countries – Punar Vivah, Dance India Dance and Pavitra Rishta.

    Ending the year 2018 on a high note, &TV opened doors of endless opportunities for makers to experiment with content. Supernatural ruled the roost this year for the channel, progressive concepts and live reality remained at the top of the list. From launching its first live reality show for kids to introducing supernatural in a new style, &TV presented its khaas andaaz with not one but many pieces of content that were rolled out. The channel launched shows like ‘The Unconventional Saas (Perfect Pati)’, ‘Love with supernatural twist (Laal Ishq)’,’ Reliving childhood stories (Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gatha)’, ‘ The mysterious Daayan (Daayan)’, Kids Live singing with ‘Love Me India’ and ‘High Fever… Dance Ka Naya Tevar’.

    Star

    Star India signed a multi-season, multi-year deal with Talpa Media for The Voice franchise, comprising The Voice and The Voice Kids. The new series will be produced by Banijay Asia, a Banijay Group company.

    Star Bharat’s socio-thriller Kaal Bhairav Rahasya returned for a second season featuring new mystery and folklore. Star Bharat launched a mythological show Radha Krishn airing Monday to Friday at 9 pm, replacing political drama Saam Daam Dand Bhed. The show was produced by Swastik Productions who have had several successes in the genre including Shani, Mahakali, and Porus. It also announced the launch of a new finite fiction show that narrated the story of firebrand freedom fighter Chandrashekar Azad in about 110 episodes, produced by Anirudh Pathak.

    The main GEC Star Plus launched a new show Karn Sangini at 7 pm. The show replaced channel’s reality show Sabse Smart Kaun. With Karn Sangini, the channel is dealing with the new genre of mytho-romance. Produced by Shashi and Sumeet Mittal, the show narrated the never-seen-before tale of a royal princess Uruvi who chose her love and stood by it against all odds.

    Discovery Jeet

    Despite heavy promotions in its launch stage, Discovery Jeet didn’t quite manage to grasp the pulse of the audience.

    Jeet entered the Hindi GEC sweepstakes on 12 February with five hours of daily programmes, out of which three hours were original programming, with content available in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. The channel launched with a distribution blitzkrieg to more than 100 million households and signed up Netflix as the exclusive global OTT partner.

    Despite the network’s best effort, the channel failed to rate. Initially thought of a challenger to the existing GEC order, Jeet fizzled out without much of a fight.

    According to Broadcast Audience Research Council data week 9, the channel garnered 6096 impressions (000s) in the 7 pm to 11 pm time slot, while it secured 15908 impressions (000s) for the whole day’s viewership. Currently, the channel airs syndicates content dubbed in Hindi.

    Overall, almost all channels heavily swapped shows for one another in order to keep audiences steady and growing. Unlike earlier years, when channels relied on primetime shows for years, times are changing and audiences are picky and broadcasters realise that.

  • COLORS steps up the game with India’s Got Talent #talent4good initiative

    COLORS steps up the game with India’s Got Talent #talent4good initiative

    MUMBAI: ‘Don’t let talent go to waste’, advocates COLORS’ flagship reality show, Maruti Suzuki Arena presents India’s Got Talent powered by Vaseline and Frooti.  The show that adjudges talent sans any gender, age, social status or location bias, in its 8th Season took innovation a notch up with its latest campaign called, #Talent4Good. Expounding on its launch proposition – ‘Woh talent hi kya jo kisi ke kaam na aye’ and adding more color to the lives of the less privileged, the campaign engaged their viewers and involved more than 50 NGO’s to spread joy amongst their beneficiaries. Talented individuals from various cities formed groups, sang, danced and performed with members of q-age homes, orphanages, and other under privileged sections to fill up the void of companionship and to entertain them through their talent and light up their lives. Spreading cheer across the country, the campaign managed to touch the lives of many through these efforts.

    The high-buzz media outreach plan that spanned across different platforms and also mobilized more than 900 students across 58 markets to use this opportunity and exhibit their talent to spread cheer in the society. This initiative resulted in an overwhelming participation of people from different walks of life.

    Having rolled out an effective and engaging media campaign said, Sapangeet Rajwant, Head- Marketing, COLORS, “India’s Got Talent as a concept provides us with a huge canvas to engage viewers across age groups. Leveraging the festival period when people are in a generous mood we went to town with the   #Talent4good campaign giving every individual a chance to give back to the society in a very simple way, i.e. by showcasing their talent. Lightening the burden of many families, COLORS, distributed hearing aids amongst those with a hearing disability and also went into hinterlands to distribute food grains, thus helping and cheering up the indigents. Our endeavor has always been to draw viewers in a way that is relevant and constructive. With efforts such as these our commitment towards being socially relevant continues on-air as well as off-air.”

    Engaging the existing and inviting new audiences the #Talent4good campaign witnessed more than 2 million listeners of Mumbai and Delhi through various activities. While Radio City RJs entertained children from orphanages through their singing and storytelling talents, BIG FM listeners were urged to beautify the city, converting dirty walls into colourful murals. Local talent entertained beneficiaries of various NGOs in Delhi, which was amplified through Big FM.

    900 colleges in 40+cities were contacted to adopt and take forward the messaging of the #together4good campaign.  Across pandals in Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot, dancers showcased their talent and the calories thus burnt were equated to the quantity of food packets/meals and donated to NGOs. The channel distributed 2,000 kg of food grain to 27 NGOs.

    Hearing aids were given away at a musical event hosted by 9X Tashan in which 10,000 audience members displayed their collective singing talent. A talent hunt was organized at the Colors Golden Petal Club in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Agra, giving participants a chance to be become a part of the COLORS family. Through Maharashtra’s Got Talent, people from 25 cities across the state showcased their talent and entertained the underprivileged. A talent workshop was also conducted for differently-abled children. Resident Welfare Associations across Mumbai were tapped during Navratri to spread the message of the campaign.

  • Woh Talent Hi Kya Jo Kisi Ke Kaam Na Aaye; COLORS Announces the Launch of India’s Got Talent

    Woh Talent Hi Kya Jo Kisi Ke Kaam Na Aaye; COLORS Announces the Launch of India’s Got Talent

    MUMBAI: Don’t let talent go to waste advocates COLORS’ flagship reality show – Maruti Suzuki Arena presents India’s Got Talent powered by Vaseline and Frooti as it returns to wow viewers with some mind-boggling acts in its eighth edition. Giving all those who dare to dream a platform to make it real, this show stands for talent that rises above sex, age, social status or place. Helmed by a jury that gives judgement par excellence, shares a camaraderie that is legendary and are trendsetters in their own right – the favorite trio Kirron Kher, Malaika Arora and Karan Johar reprise their roles as judges in this season as well. Produced by Fremantle Media Pvt Ltd, this chapter of India’s Got Talent is hosted by ace comedian Bharti Singh and the fun loving Ritvik Dhanjani who will add to the entertainment quotient. The show will premiere on 20th October 2018 and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 10 PM on COLORS.

    With ‘Woh Talent Hi Kya Jo Kisi Ke Kaam Na Aye’ as its credo, this season brings audiences stories that need to be seen and heard.  This year’s highlight will include performances like techno act, bike formations by the CRPF women, Water aerial acts, Spell binding Illusionist, Malkhambh and first time ever – 3D projection and Holographic interactive acts. The quest for finding the best of the best spans the length and breadth of the country and talent from different parts of the society will walk through the ‘Hunar ka Darwaza’ to reach this stage that sees everyone as equal and are judged purely based on talent.

    Speaking about launch, Nina Elavia Jaipuria – Head, Hindi and Kids TV Network, Viacom18, said: “COLORS has over the years established itself as a progressive brand brought to life through its evolved content strategy. All our shows and communication represents the dynamic social fabric of India and now with a high decibel property like India’s Got Talent we will once again provide an unique opportunity for best of national prodigies to showcase their passion and craft. We are sure that this iconic show without any prejudice has inspired many to pursue their passion will once again enthrall its audience with its immersive and diverse talent.”

    Manisha Sharma– Chief Content Officer – Hindi Mass Entertainment, Viacom18, said: “India’s Got Talent is a flagship brand for us and is an extreme delight to showcase unique and untapped talent from across the country. Bringing these beautiful art forms on stage and see their journey is what makes it complete. So, here is to another season of India’s Got Talent with our favorite panel, may the variety and journey be fulfilling to all.”

    Aradhana Bhola – Managing Director, Fremantle Media Pvt Ltd added saying, “The Got Talent format finds a place in the Guinness book of world records as the most successful reality television format. This is the 8th season that we are doing with Colors who continue to be our partners in every sense of the way. We are excited to bring forth talent from the most urban & rural parts of India to the audiences. We hope this amazing talent coupled with our experienced and fun filled jury will create yet another season of irresistible entertainment.”

    Speaking about her return to the show, Judge Kirron Kher said, “I eagerly await every new season because I love the courage and determination that the participants display in order to achieve their dreams, especially those who come from small towns and cities. Over the seasons, the show has witnessed unique talent that has also represented the country on international platforms. I’m proud to be associated with the show for all the 8 seasons, since its inception in India.”

    Fellow judge Malaika Arora further added saying, “My experience with the show gets better every season. Being able to witness acts that I didn’t know exist is something I look forward to. However, this year will see me dish out innovative hashtags for the contestants that manage to fascinate me with entertainment & talent”.

    Karan Johar concluded saying, “Every season has been inspirational, and I am looking forward to raising the judging parameters to ensure that contestants bring their best to the stage. We are on the lookout for the absolute best among the many that will showcase their talent on this mammoth platform that has turned many dreams into reality.”

    To enhance viewers engagement at every stage of the show, an integrated 360-degree campaign has been chalked out incorporating multiple mediums across the country. Our belief that real talent is that which is used for the betterment of society will be embodied by college students and citizens alike across 50 towns across the country the #TalentJohKaamAaye. The sea of talent mobilized through this campaign and amplified through Radio will spread joy to those who need it most the youth of this country to use their talent and spread joy to those who need it most.

    For India’s Got Talent, COLORS has roped in a volley of sponsors including Presenting Sponsors Maruti Suzuki, Powered by Sponsors Vaseline and Frooti and Associate Sponsors Macho Hint, Dish TV, Vim, Nirma Advance and Godrej Expert Rich Crème.

  • Colors-Nick and KidZania to blend entertainment with reality

    Colors-Nick and KidZania to blend entertainment with reality

    MUMBAI: In its endeavor to enrich consumer experiences and provide integrated entertainment, Viacom18 media and entertainment network has partnered with KidZania (Delhi).

    As a part of the partnership, KidZania Delhi will have a Nickelodeon and Colors-themed TV studio. The partnership with KidZania, is another step forward in Viacom18’s strategy of building ecosystems outside of the traditional television landscape, creating synergies across brands and platforms.

    KidZania is an interactive indoor theme park that empowers, inspires and educates kids through real-life role-play activities. By blending reality with entertainment, this partnership aims to provide an authentic and powerful developmental platform where kids can discover, explore and learn about the real-world.

    Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak said, “At Viacom18, we believe that creating experiences through multiple touchpoints goes a long way in fostering an engaged relationship with consumers. This partnership with KidZania brings a perfect opportunity for us to collaborate with like-minded partners and creating a platform for children to experience different aspects of the media and entertainment industry.”

    The Colors Studio will allow kids to actively interact and understand the story that is going to unfold for Colors show properties, be it India’s Got Talent, Rising Star, Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa or India Banega Manch. They can choose to be in front of the camera or behind it; enact the role of a celebrity host or get ready to dance with the stars and step into the shoes of their favorite judges, show characters.

    Viacom18 head – kids entertainment cluster Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “Nickelodeon has always endeavored to engage with kids by providing them unique and immersive experiences that are unparalleled. This partnership is another step towards inspiring kids with an inimitable curated platform that facilitates learning, development as well as play. The Nickelodeon studio will now allow kids to be a part of their favorite nicktoons life thus building an everlasting bond with them.”

    Kids love being a part of the daily lives of their favorite characters and the Nickelodeon studio will provide kids an engaging platform to interact and be a part of the adventures of their favorite toons like Motu Patlu, Dora, Shiva, etc. The studio will open with a dubbing studio where kids will be able to enjoy a true to life simulated dubbing experience, by giving voice to their favorite Motu Patlu, Shiva to name a few.

    Going forward, the studio will continue to curate many such experience like learning how to create animation, immersing themselves in an episode of their favorite toons etc, allowing kids to truly feel inspired and experience the mystical world of their favourite nicktoons.

    KidZania India CEO Sanjeev Kumar said, “We are delighted to partner with Viacom18 for Colors and Nickelodeon studios, which will bring an exclusive experience for kids and we look forward to expanding this partnership in the future.”

    As part of building an ecosystem, KidZania will also have Voot Kids, the leading kids content destination from Viacom18’s OTT service. The platform will bring alive high decibel engagement throughout the year with an objective to engage and celebrate with kids & their parents on special occasions like Diwali, Christmas, summer holidays, etc.

  • Promos & Programming are heart & soul of television channels: Raj Nayak

    Promos & Programming are heart & soul of television channels: Raj Nayak

    MUMBAI: Colors CEO Raj Nayak opened the PromaxBDA India 2016 Conference highlighting the ever growing importance of promos for shows on channels.

    Starting on a lighter note, Nayak said, “I have noticed a few changes compared to last year and biggest change that I have seen in the industry is that the time is fleeting. It feels like it was just like just yesterday when I spoke at the last PromaxBDA.

    Giving insights into how the industry had changed over the years, Nayak said, “Today you have to create promos that tell a story within 20 to 60 seconds. With every passing day the competition is getting more aggressive, more and more channels are launching, more and more shows are being launched. Therefore, there are so many promos to run in lesser time, which makes the job even more challenging.”

    Nayak said that earlier even promos were creatively brilliant. The amount of exposure they got on TV made sure that they stuck in the consumers mind, but today that luxury no longer existed. “In fact the biggest problem that we face in Colors is we don’t have enough promo time on our own channel and we go and spend millions of dollars buying promo time outside the network for that’s the kind of money we spent to promote our shows,” while stressing the importance of promos.

    Nayak shared that at one point of time in the television industry, though the promo department was an important department for the channel, in terms of hierarchy, it always came after the programming department. He said, “It was always seen as the support function but that concept has changed now. Programming and promo departments could be defined as the heart and soul of a television channel. One doesn’t know which one to call the heart and which one to call the soul. At Colors we believe that both of them are equally important in today’s time.”    

    Nayak said that in the past unless it was big ticket shows like Fear Factor, India’s Got Talent, Kaun Banega Crorepati and Indian Idol, channels never spent money on producing or shooting promos separately for their other shows. He observed that that thinking had changed now. “I think now even for fiction shows channels shoot promos, sometimes before the channel has even started casting for them. At Colors, we shot the promos for our show Ashoka Chakravartin Samrat six month before launching it. Also, for Naagin, we shoot the promo with dummy actors before finalizing the cast,” Nayak shared.

    This was the fourth consecutive year that Nayak had donned the role of chairperson for PromaxBDA India 2016. The PromaxBDA India 2016 conference programme ran over two days. The first day or ‘Boot Camp’ schedule comprised of workshops’ on promos, branding, marketing including news marketing and animation.

    The second day of the conference or ‘Master Class’ schedule comprised of speakers  sharing their knowledge and a panel discussion. The day culminated with an awards function.

    Lee Hunt LLC founder Lee Hunt who made two keynote addresses. Lee’s opening keynote was ‘Dynamic Branding’, while his second keynote scheduled for the post lunch session as a closing keynote was titled ‘Death of the Channel Brand’. Other sessions included ‘The next generation of Viewer Connection’ by 602 Communications president Graeme Newell and ‘Creativity is An Option: Fake It Till You Make It’ by SBS Belgium creative director Steve Brouwers.

    Lunch was followed a panel discussion – ‘Panel Session: State of Our Art’ moderated by creative director and co-founder of Dynamite Design Sheetal Sudhir. The panellists were The 120 Media Collective & Sooperfly founder and CEO Roopak Saluja and Studio Eeksaurus founder and creative director Suresh Eriyat.

    Like every year, PromaxBDA India 2016 has encouraged marketing professionals to send in their best work for the opportunity of being recognized at the PromaxBDA Awards in the midst of the best in the business. PromaxBDA represents more than 10,000 companies and promotion and marketing professionals at every major media organization.

     

  • Promos & Programming are heart & soul of television channels: Raj Nayak

    Promos & Programming are heart & soul of television channels: Raj Nayak

    MUMBAI: Colors CEO Raj Nayak opened the PromaxBDA India 2016 Conference highlighting the ever growing importance of promos for shows on channels.

    Starting on a lighter note, Nayak said, “I have noticed a few changes compared to last year and biggest change that I have seen in the industry is that the time is fleeting. It feels like it was just like just yesterday when I spoke at the last PromaxBDA.

    Giving insights into how the industry had changed over the years, Nayak said, “Today you have to create promos that tell a story within 20 to 60 seconds. With every passing day the competition is getting more aggressive, more and more channels are launching, more and more shows are being launched. Therefore, there are so many promos to run in lesser time, which makes the job even more challenging.”

    Nayak said that earlier even promos were creatively brilliant. The amount of exposure they got on TV made sure that they stuck in the consumers mind, but today that luxury no longer existed. “In fact the biggest problem that we face in Colors is we don’t have enough promo time on our own channel and we go and spend millions of dollars buying promo time outside the network for that’s the kind of money we spent to promote our shows,” while stressing the importance of promos.

    Nayak shared that at one point of time in the television industry, though the promo department was an important department for the channel, in terms of hierarchy, it always came after the programming department. He said, “It was always seen as the support function but that concept has changed now. Programming and promo departments could be defined as the heart and soul of a television channel. One doesn’t know which one to call the heart and which one to call the soul. At Colors we believe that both of them are equally important in today’s time.”    

    Nayak said that in the past unless it was big ticket shows like Fear Factor, India’s Got Talent, Kaun Banega Crorepati and Indian Idol, channels never spent money on producing or shooting promos separately for their other shows. He observed that that thinking had changed now. “I think now even for fiction shows channels shoot promos, sometimes before the channel has even started casting for them. At Colors, we shot the promos for our show Ashoka Chakravartin Samrat six month before launching it. Also, for Naagin, we shoot the promo with dummy actors before finalizing the cast,” Nayak shared.

    This was the fourth consecutive year that Nayak had donned the role of chairperson for PromaxBDA India 2016. The PromaxBDA India 2016 conference programme ran over two days. The first day or ‘Boot Camp’ schedule comprised of workshops’ on promos, branding, marketing including news marketing and animation.

    The second day of the conference or ‘Master Class’ schedule comprised of speakers  sharing their knowledge and a panel discussion. The day culminated with an awards function.

    Lee Hunt LLC founder Lee Hunt who made two keynote addresses. Lee’s opening keynote was ‘Dynamic Branding’, while his second keynote scheduled for the post lunch session as a closing keynote was titled ‘Death of the Channel Brand’. Other sessions included ‘The next generation of Viewer Connection’ by 602 Communications president Graeme Newell and ‘Creativity is An Option: Fake It Till You Make It’ by SBS Belgium creative director Steve Brouwers.

    Lunch was followed a panel discussion – ‘Panel Session: State of Our Art’ moderated by creative director and co-founder of Dynamite Design Sheetal Sudhir. The panellists were The 120 Media Collective & Sooperfly founder and CEO Roopak Saluja and Studio Eeksaurus founder and creative director Suresh Eriyat.

    Like every year, PromaxBDA India 2016 has encouraged marketing professionals to send in their best work for the opportunity of being recognized at the PromaxBDA Awards in the midst of the best in the business. PromaxBDA represents more than 10,000 companies and promotion and marketing professionals at every major media organization.

     

  • Colors strengthens its weekend with 7th season of India’s Got Talent

    Colors strengthens its weekend with 7th season of India’s Got Talent

     MUMBAI: Talent doesn’t discriminate; it knows no biases, it has no preferences. After Khatro Ke Khiladi, Colors is once again back with its one of the finest show which brings rarest of jewels of the country with India’s Got Talent season 7. The weekend show will start airing from 30 April on Saturday – Sunday at 9pm time band.

    The judging panel- Karan Johar, Kirron Kher and Malaika Arora Khan will return yet again to turn dreams into reality for the contestants. Produced by Fremantle India, IGT-7 will be hosted by Bharti Singh and Sidharth Shukla.

    The channel has  roped in Maruti Suzuki as presenting sponsor, L’Oreal Paris as the powered by sponsor, and  Nivea, Liberty Shoes and Kent RO Systems as associate sponsors specially for its HD feed.

    This year’s highlights include performances  like sand art, beatboxing, mind-reading, underwater and water-sport acts, aerial yoga, horse acrobatics, and for the first-time-ever ice-skating and sky-diving acts. This edition will also see the team travel to every nook and cranny of the country to bring to the fore unheard of talents looking for a stage to perform. Further, special episodes will celebrate rustic and traditional art forms which have lost their individuality over the years.

    Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “The beauty of India’s Got Talent is that it just lets you be. It doesn’t try to restyle you. Hence the focus is purely on what you bring to table in terms of your talent. It’s the only credible platform that the country has which gives opportunities to the uniqueness in an individual. As we venture into the by-lanes of India in search of the best, with a promise of larger than life performances, we promise to create an unparalleled viewing experience for our discerning audience.”

    Fremantle India  content head Aradhana Bhola, “In its seventh season, India’s Got Talent’s search for superlative talent has taken us to the smallest towns and villages including  Loharika in Punjab  and Nunerbhari in Bengal. With double the dose of entertainment, drama and never-seen-before spectacles, the show will be a treat to the audiences’ senses. We hope that the show’s larger-than-life backdrop and nation-wide search for superior talent will enthrall viewers and keep them glued to their television sets.”

    The channel has devised an extensive marketing campaign incorporating multiple mediums reaching out to viewers at various touch-points for top-of-mind recall. On the digital front, the channel has devised various activities including a blogger outreach program, a glimpse into the lives of talent from previous seasons including last year’s winner Manik Paul, and invite talent-led stories on social media platforms using the hashtags #IFeelTalentedWhenI and #HunarHiPehchaanHai amongst other initiatives.

  • Colors strengthens its weekend with 7th season of India’s Got Talent

    Colors strengthens its weekend with 7th season of India’s Got Talent

     MUMBAI: Talent doesn’t discriminate; it knows no biases, it has no preferences. After Khatro Ke Khiladi, Colors is once again back with its one of the finest show which brings rarest of jewels of the country with India’s Got Talent season 7. The weekend show will start airing from 30 April on Saturday – Sunday at 9pm time band.

    The judging panel- Karan Johar, Kirron Kher and Malaika Arora Khan will return yet again to turn dreams into reality for the contestants. Produced by Fremantle India, IGT-7 will be hosted by Bharti Singh and Sidharth Shukla.

    The channel has  roped in Maruti Suzuki as presenting sponsor, L’Oreal Paris as the powered by sponsor, and  Nivea, Liberty Shoes and Kent RO Systems as associate sponsors specially for its HD feed.

    This year’s highlights include performances  like sand art, beatboxing, mind-reading, underwater and water-sport acts, aerial yoga, horse acrobatics, and for the first-time-ever ice-skating and sky-diving acts. This edition will also see the team travel to every nook and cranny of the country to bring to the fore unheard of talents looking for a stage to perform. Further, special episodes will celebrate rustic and traditional art forms which have lost their individuality over the years.

    Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “The beauty of India’s Got Talent is that it just lets you be. It doesn’t try to restyle you. Hence the focus is purely on what you bring to table in terms of your talent. It’s the only credible platform that the country has which gives opportunities to the uniqueness in an individual. As we venture into the by-lanes of India in search of the best, with a promise of larger than life performances, we promise to create an unparalleled viewing experience for our discerning audience.”

    Fremantle India  content head Aradhana Bhola, “In its seventh season, India’s Got Talent’s search for superlative talent has taken us to the smallest towns and villages including  Loharika in Punjab  and Nunerbhari in Bengal. With double the dose of entertainment, drama and never-seen-before spectacles, the show will be a treat to the audiences’ senses. We hope that the show’s larger-than-life backdrop and nation-wide search for superior talent will enthrall viewers and keep them glued to their television sets.”

    The channel has devised an extensive marketing campaign incorporating multiple mediums reaching out to viewers at various touch-points for top-of-mind recall. On the digital front, the channel has devised various activities including a blogger outreach program, a glimpse into the lives of talent from previous seasons including last year’s winner Manik Paul, and invite talent-led stories on social media platforms using the hashtags #IFeelTalentedWhenI and #HunarHiPehchaanHai amongst other initiatives.

  • Sony revives second non-fiction show ‘Entertainment Ke liye…’

    Sony revives second non-fiction show ‘Entertainment Ke liye…’

    MUMBAI: A few weeks back when Sony Entertainment Television NP Singh was elevated to the post of CEO from COO, he had promised that he will make some changes in the channel’s programming and work on bringing it back into fighting fit shape. Apparently, he appears to be acting on that promise in double quick time. 

     

    A statement from the channel says that its talent reality show Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega is going to be back soon. “This is to inform you that SET’s show Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch bhi Karega is coming back. The auditions will start from 26 January,” it says.

     

    While the date has been announced, no other details are known. A source from the channel says that Anu Malik, who has been the judge on earlier editions, has a big chance to come back this time too. However, the second judge hasn’t been finalised yet. “It could be Farah Khan, or somebody else may come in as well,” says the source, admitting that the hosts may also change.

    Sony Entertainment is also looking at tweaking the format a bit to make it more appealing to audiences.

     

    When we contacted Wizcraft TV head Namit Sharma that has produced the earlier editions of the show, he said it’s too early to talk about the details as nothing has been finalised – as of yet. “But we are starting silent auditions from the end of the month and we will go across the country to find exceptional talent,” he adds.

     

    The talent show premiered on the channel in May 2009, just a month before India’s Got Talent kicked off on rival channel Colors. However, while IGT became one of the most talked about and popular properties of Colors, Entertainment… was given a quiet burial. However, the tongue-in-cheek and many times blunt comments of judges Anu Malik and Farah Khan caught the fancy of TV viewers. 

     

    The last season (season 4) was aired on the channel in 2011 and The Raibishi group from West Bengal was the winner. 

     

    NP – it appears – is relying on tried and tested non-fiction properties to buoy Sony Entertainment. Recently, he dragged out R&N Productions’ long-running Boogie Woggie from the back of the closet and relaunched it on the Hindi GEC. The trio of Ravi Behl, Naved and Jaavved Jafferi tweaked the format, added a lot more emotion and drama to the dance show, and since then it seems to have got its mojo back and appears to be doing very well for Sony.

     

    Will Entertainment Ke Liye… do similarly well?