ITV

Tag: J W Marriott

  • Zee ‘Cinestar Ki Khoj’ attempts to woo Hindi heartland?

    Zee ‘Cinestar Ki Khoj’ attempts to woo Hindi heartland?

    MUMBAI: ‘Back to the old world charm’. Thats the new buzzword for Zee. When Subhash Chandras flagship channel launched it mega talent hunt- Cinestar Ki Khoj, the initial responses wavered between an OK attempt to plain indifference. The response didnt ruffle them; instead the channel worked steadily towards build up its grass-root reach.

    The attempt, they claim, has even helped them to inch their way into the top 100 programmes in all C&S 4+ households.In a press conference held in Mumbai, at the J W Marriott Hotel, the channel introduced the chosen 32 to the media. Decked to perfection, the chosen few strutted their asset and introduced themselves to the press. But it wasnt their designer outfits or their picture perfect faces that were memorable; instead it was the small time town charm that appealed. It is exactly the response, one would assume, that the channel wants.

    While the city rounds of the talent hunt is done with, in comes the big countdown to the grand finale Indias Best. Starting 27 September, the reality shows Bollywood Dreams- The making of a Cinestar, will coincide with the change in the programming matrix. Pitted against the one of the Star Plus big gun Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, the reality show will push out the channels non-starter thriller Tamanna House. In addition to that there will be special aired in the weekend slot.

    The talent hunt will be, hence forth, divided into two phases. First is the behind-the scene action and second is the contest. With this contest we are looking at building up the interactivity, said Corporate Brand Development Groups vice-president Ashish Kaul. We have for the first time utilised the instant SMS reach. The volatile popularity chart will be placed as a bug on the channel during the telecast, which will give the correct picture of the popularity of the contestants. Its going to be a complete public opinion round, he added.

    In addition to that, Kaul also informed that they would be looking at building up the weekends as the reality show franchises. Close on the heels of Indias Bests finale, the channel is looking at launching its business reality show- Business Baazigar the next big entrepreneur reality show. All that in addition to the roll out of over 8-10 new shows over the next quarter.

    Zee ka magic chalega kya? May be that calls for yet another reality show.

  • C’AS and when it happens

    C’AS and when it happens

    MUMBAI:Ultimately, it was independent media auditor Meenakshi Madhvani from the audience who stole the show with her well timed quip at the CNBC TV18 organised panel discussions on ‘That’s Entertainment’ at the J W Marriott last evening.

    While panelists including I&B secretary Pawan Chopra, Star India COO Sameer Nair and SET Discovery president Shantonu Aditya debated the benefits of and choices available to the consumer thanks to CAS, DTH and broadband, Madhvani crisply pointed out that while all the vacillating policies on conditional access thus far had been initiated in the name of the consumer, it was the consumer who would ultimately have the say in accepting either technology. “Remember, the remote is finally in the hands of the consumer, for whose eyeballs the entire fight is about,” she reminded the panelists, to applause from an audience comprising television and advertising professionals.

    In an otherwise bland discussion, in which incisive anchor Anuradha Sengupta could get only optimistic and stoic responses from Aditya and Nair on the return of conditional access, Hathway Cable and Datacom CEO K Jayaraman provided the only vociferous note. “With CAS in indefinite abeyance and DTH already rolled out, we are facing a stiff competition, particularly in SEC A and B homes,” he pointed out. “With CAS continuing to be in limbo, all we will be left with will be SEC C and lower down,” he complained.

    While the broadcasters (Zee Turner president Sunil Khanna along with Aditya and Nair) sounded unanimous that while the need for addressability continues, CAS was not packaged the way it should have been, Aditya said he was more bullish on broadband, hinting that this lternative platform was probably set to take off in the next couple of weeks.

    Chopra himself, despite being cornered by questions probing the sagacity of first announcing and then withdrawing CAS, said that eventually multiple distribution platforms would become available in the country and that, the postponement was CAS was no loss of image for the ministry. “CAS is an integral part of the DTH model,” he said, citing examples of other countries, and maintaining that Prasar Bharati’s free to air DTH would also be a part of the spectrum.

    Aditya foresaw at least 30 to 40 special interest channels entering the country, once CAS comes in, as also the entry of more multinational companies into the ground distribution business with addressability getting implemented in India.. 

  • Vikas Bhalla, Deepshikha as the newest surprise element in ‘Karishma…’

    MUMBAI: With the second launch slated for 25 August, Karishma- The Miracles of Destiny’s unit finally let its hair down at the launch party at J W Marriott on Monday night.
    Apart form the new banners and a fresh media publicity round; the show in its revamped avatar will also have some new faces in meatier roles. Amongst actor who have their roles refurbished are actor- singer Vikas Bhalla and film and television actor Deepshikha aka Kittie Party’s Kuku.


    Besides a colour change from reddish orange to sky blue, the promotional banners of the serial sport Bhalla’s face now. When asked why it was missing in the earlier promos, he pleaded ignorance and jocularly added that he was unaware that the show had been launched earlier. According to media sources, Bhalla has been on the shoot since day one, but his romantic track with Karishma has now been refurbished, hence the inclusion.
    Speaking about his character Arjun, Bhalla said: “He is the youngest Thakur who returns to his village after studying abroad. Being Devyani’s (the older Karishma) first love, he is the only pleasant memory of her childhood. She and he have been childhood buddies.” Vikas Bhalla who started his career as a film actor, later launched a music album and was last seen in Zee’s late night show Miit. His role was later handed to Hiten Tejwani. Besides starring in Karishma… he has also launched his second album, which according to him did average business. 
    When asked, he offered that his track with Karishma is to run for 60 episodes. The relationship between him and Karishma is a typical filmi rich boy-poor girl track, with him being a rich Thakur and she his house help. His elder brother kills him on the show, over property issues, thus adding some drama.
    While Vikas has been shooting since day one, media sources claim that Deepshikha has been signed just a few months ago. In an earlier interview, Deepshikha offered that her character would be introduced after 60 episodes, but news has it that her character is the surprise element on the show from day one.


    She is to play Devyani’s son Jay’s (played by Ayub Khan) mistress, settled in Dubai. After she is gets to know that he is already married to Resham Tipnis, settled in India, she packs her bag and flies down to India to claim her right a la Mandira in Kyunki….