ITV

Tag: Kartikeya Sharma

  • Sony brings month-long Pro-Wrestling League S2 on 15 December

    Sony brings month-long Pro-Wrestling League S2 on 15 December

    MUMBAI: The biggest olympic league in the world and much acclaimed Pro Wrestling League (PWL), in association with Wrestling Federation of India, launched last year, is back in Season 2 with “Double Dhamaka”. World’s biggest Olympic sports league and the longest running Live TV show surpassed the television presence of many televised leagues and garnered millions of eyeballs.

    The Second season of the league is set to kick-start from December 15, 2016. PWL today announced numerous additions in the second season featuring eight teams instead of six with an increase in players’ pool to 80 from the initial draft of 54. From 18 days, the multi-city league moves on to a month-long second edition of PWL.

    Wrestling Federation of India president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, emphasized,“While local ‘Dangals’ enjoyed unprecedented live spectators, data suggests that on TV, wrestling emerged as the most watched Olympic sport for Indian audience in the last 12 months.” He added, “PWL had direct impact on recent Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, as she got an opportunity to study, share & compete alongside the best wrestlers in the world during PWL.”

    ProSportify founder & promoter Kartikeya Sharma, reiterated,“We’ve created a friendly format for TV viewing sports fans whilst keeping the ethos, mat rules and rich tradition of the game intact. Additionally, our three innovations worked heavily in PWL’s favour. Essentially, converting an individual sport into a Team Game with boys & girls representing the same team. Secondly, introduction of ‘Toss’& subsequently ‘Player Blocking’ added a sense of suspense, excitement & drama in the competitive fast-paced game”.

    Sony Pictures Network president- Sports & Distribution, Rajesh Kaul, said, “At Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), we are committed to bringing the best of International sports as well as supporting domestic sports leagues. Given India’s affinity towards wrestling which is ingrained in our culture, the PWL garnered impressive viewership in its inaugural year on our network and earned the distinction of being one of the top three domestic leagues in India.”

    PWL was launched with the aim to provide international platform to the deserving talent across India to compete with worlds best wrestlers in India. The most watched Olympic sport league in India also reached out to newer pockets and increased players fan following. Internationally the league has established as the most successful league, as a result we will now feature over 40 international wrestlers as compared to 24 last year. With this PWL becomes the biggest league with maximum Olympians playing in India.

  • Budweiser brings ‘What’s Brewing’ to India

    Budweiser brings ‘What’s Brewing’ to India

    MUMBAI: Budweiser’s latest campaign ‘Always Brewing’ derives its genesis from the brand’s core principles of freedom, authenticity and ambition, and engages with today’s generation- who, like the brand, are infused with the drive of constant progress and perfection.

    Kickstarting this campaign will be the launch of ‘What’s Brewing’, Budweiser’s global music property for the first time in India. This event will demonstrate how music and Budweiser are constantly brewing, showcasing three different music genre stages at a single venue, with simultaneous performances by 11 hot electronic musical acts of the country.

    AB InBev, India South East Asia MD Kartikeya Sharma said, “Electronic music culture in India is very dynamic and millennials are extremely keen to explore newer music experiences. ‘Always Brewing’ is an attempt to strengthen our relationship with our target audience by introducing them to newer experiences in the evolving world of music.”

    Budweiser is bringing the first-ever Indian edition of one of the leading global electronic music festival ‘Electric Daisy Carnival’ on 12-13 November 2016 at Buddh International Circuit in Noida. The Vegas-style festival will see mesmerizing performances from over 40 international and Indian artistes combined with a unique carnival like atmosphere.

    Completing the on-ground experience would be ‘Budweiser Unknown’ – Budweiser’s interactive office outreach program that targets millennials in multiple cities of India. The programme will offer an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) introduction of Electric Daisy Carnival. The ‘Always Brewing’ campaign will also see an extensive on-ground promotion in key outlets and heavy promotion on digital platforms.

  • Budweiser brings ‘What’s Brewing’ to India

    Budweiser brings ‘What’s Brewing’ to India

    MUMBAI: Budweiser’s latest campaign ‘Always Brewing’ derives its genesis from the brand’s core principles of freedom, authenticity and ambition, and engages with today’s generation- who, like the brand, are infused with the drive of constant progress and perfection.

    Kickstarting this campaign will be the launch of ‘What’s Brewing’, Budweiser’s global music property for the first time in India. This event will demonstrate how music and Budweiser are constantly brewing, showcasing three different music genre stages at a single venue, with simultaneous performances by 11 hot electronic musical acts of the country.

    AB InBev, India South East Asia MD Kartikeya Sharma said, “Electronic music culture in India is very dynamic and millennials are extremely keen to explore newer music experiences. ‘Always Brewing’ is an attempt to strengthen our relationship with our target audience by introducing them to newer experiences in the evolving world of music.”

    Budweiser is bringing the first-ever Indian edition of one of the leading global electronic music festival ‘Electric Daisy Carnival’ on 12-13 November 2016 at Buddh International Circuit in Noida. The Vegas-style festival will see mesmerizing performances from over 40 international and Indian artistes combined with a unique carnival like atmosphere.

    Completing the on-ground experience would be ‘Budweiser Unknown’ – Budweiser’s interactive office outreach program that targets millennials in multiple cities of India. The programme will offer an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) introduction of Electric Daisy Carnival. The ‘Always Brewing’ campaign will also see an extensive on-ground promotion in key outlets and heavy promotion on digital platforms.

  • iTV’s CRO and NewsX CEO Sanjay Dua quits

    iTV’s CRO and NewsX CEO Sanjay Dua quits

    MUMBAI: iTV Network’s group chief revenue officer Sanjay Dua has stepped down from his responsibilty. Dua was responsible for providing strategic direction and creating new opportunities in the market. He also worked towards innovative revenue mode;ls for the network’ growth and was also closely associated with the company’s commercial sports property.

    “There is no solid reason behind his resignation. He wishes to pursue other opportunities in life and give some valuable time to his personal life. He is just taking a short break for now”, said founder and promoter of iTV Network Kartikeya Sharma.

    He had joined NewsX as the CEO and iTV as CRO in September 2014.

    Dua comes with a lavish experince of working with Network18 News Media as the CEO andd handles CNN-IBN, IBN7, IBN-Lokmat and History TV18. He also managed the advertising sales of CNBC-TV18, CNBC-Awaaz, CNN-IBN, IBN7, IBN-Lokmat and History TV18. Before joining Network18, he was National Sales Head for Zee News Network.

  • iTV’s CRO and NewsX CEO Sanjay Dua quits

    iTV’s CRO and NewsX CEO Sanjay Dua quits

    MUMBAI: iTV Network’s group chief revenue officer Sanjay Dua has stepped down from his responsibilty. Dua was responsible for providing strategic direction and creating new opportunities in the market. He also worked towards innovative revenue mode;ls for the network’ growth and was also closely associated with the company’s commercial sports property.

    “There is no solid reason behind his resignation. He wishes to pursue other opportunities in life and give some valuable time to his personal life. He is just taking a short break for now”, said founder and promoter of iTV Network Kartikeya Sharma.

    He had joined NewsX as the CEO and iTV as CRO in September 2014.

    Dua comes with a lavish experince of working with Network18 News Media as the CEO andd handles CNN-IBN, IBN7, IBN-Lokmat and History TV18. He also managed the advertising sales of CNBC-TV18, CNBC-Awaaz, CNN-IBN, IBN7, IBN-Lokmat and History TV18. Before joining Network18, he was National Sales Head for Zee News Network.

  • iTV Network launches water sustainability project to celebrate World Water Day

    iTV Network launches water sustainability project to celebrate World Water Day

    MUMBAI: With 22 March marking World Water Day, iTV Network and Atom Technologies in partnership with AquaKraft Projects Pvt Ltd have initiated a special programme for administering water ATMs and public utility services.

    The programme will cover the length and breadth of the country including D, E, and F category railway stations under the CSR programme facilitated by IRCTC and CMAI Association of India. Forty one water ATMs and ten state of the art public utility toilets will be initially inaugurated in the key areas of North Eastern railway district. Similar types of utility stations have already been implemented in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan and are currently being implemented in Baramati (Maharashtra) by Aquakraft.

    A water ATM works like how an ATM works. A user swipes a prepaid card, following which the water dispenser’s screen flashes the chosen amount for which the user wishes to collect water and deducts the amount from the water ATM prepaid card. Public utility toilets that are connected to the network can also be used with the card.

    The major issue in India on water consumption is clean drinking water, health, hygiene and sanitation. To cope with these issues, government has undertaken several initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Clean Ganga Project to create an enabling environment for innovation and sustainability.

    iTV Network founder and promoter Kartikeya Sharma said, “iTV Network has always been at the forefront of using media as a platform for change. Availability of clean drinking water is one of the key challenges today and we at iTVnetwork are happy to work closely with Aqua Kraft to create a revolution in the distribution of clean and safe drinking water.”

    Aquakraft chairman and CEO Subramany Kusnur said, “Water management is an important requirement for ecologically sustainable development. Efficient consumption of water is a major issue in today’s society, thus our project has been set up to create products that can help preserve one of our key natural resources and at the same time fulfil the requirements of clean and healthy water to the nation.”

    Atom technologies CEO Dewang Neralla added, “We are extremely elated to work with Aquakraft for powering their AquATMs with our prepaid cards. We strongly believe this will benefit the clusters of villages and communities around the stations and will not only provide safe drinking water but also help foster greater financial inclusion through enablement of payments for water as well as other services using the prepaid cards.”

  • iTV Network launches water sustainability project to celebrate World Water Day

    iTV Network launches water sustainability project to celebrate World Water Day

    MUMBAI: With 22 March marking World Water Day, iTV Network and Atom Technologies in partnership with AquaKraft Projects Pvt Ltd have initiated a special programme for administering water ATMs and public utility services.

    The programme will cover the length and breadth of the country including D, E, and F category railway stations under the CSR programme facilitated by IRCTC and CMAI Association of India. Forty one water ATMs and ten state of the art public utility toilets will be initially inaugurated in the key areas of North Eastern railway district. Similar types of utility stations have already been implemented in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan and are currently being implemented in Baramati (Maharashtra) by Aquakraft.

    A water ATM works like how an ATM works. A user swipes a prepaid card, following which the water dispenser’s screen flashes the chosen amount for which the user wishes to collect water and deducts the amount from the water ATM prepaid card. Public utility toilets that are connected to the network can also be used with the card.

    The major issue in India on water consumption is clean drinking water, health, hygiene and sanitation. To cope with these issues, government has undertaken several initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Clean Ganga Project to create an enabling environment for innovation and sustainability.

    iTV Network founder and promoter Kartikeya Sharma said, “iTV Network has always been at the forefront of using media as a platform for change. Availability of clean drinking water is one of the key challenges today and we at iTVnetwork are happy to work closely with Aqua Kraft to create a revolution in the distribution of clean and safe drinking water.”

    Aquakraft chairman and CEO Subramany Kusnur said, “Water management is an important requirement for ecologically sustainable development. Efficient consumption of water is a major issue in today’s society, thus our project has been set up to create products that can help preserve one of our key natural resources and at the same time fulfil the requirements of clean and healthy water to the nation.”

    Atom technologies CEO Dewang Neralla added, “We are extremely elated to work with Aquakraft for powering their AquATMs with our prepaid cards. We strongly believe this will benefit the clusters of villages and communities around the stations and will not only provide safe drinking water but also help foster greater financial inclusion through enablement of payments for water as well as other services using the prepaid cards.”

  • iTV Network ups Vikas Khanna as national sales head of India News

    iTV Network ups Vikas Khanna as national sales head of India News

    MUMBAI: iTV Network has elevated Vikas Khanna to the post of national sales head of India News.

    Khanna was initially the senior vice president at India News. He will be responsible for driving the all India ad sales revenue of India News national and will continue to report to India News CEO Varun Kohli.

    Commenting on the elevation, iTV Network MD Kartikeya Sharma said, “We are delighted to elevate Vikas as the national sales head of India News. This elevation is in line with our commitment to growth. His skills and wide experience will surely help India News reach the next level of growth.”

    Kohli added, “Vikas has played an important role in India News sales and with his elevation as national sales head, India News, he will take on a wider role. His strong track record of delivering growth and his understanding of the industry will help us move forward on our path of continued success.”

    “I am delighted and honoured to have been given the responsibility of driving the ad sales revenue of India News National. In this fiercely competitive market, I shall strive to further strengthen the various revenue streams of India News and achieve a robust growth in the coming year,” Khanna said.

    Khanna previously worked with Network18 where he was responsible for the advertising sales of IBN 7 North region. He served India Today Group for six years and then moved to Times of India and thereafter to NDTV Media wherein he handled brands such as NDTV India, NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit.

  • iTV Network ups Vikas Khanna as national sales head of India News

    iTV Network ups Vikas Khanna as national sales head of India News

    MUMBAI: iTV Network has elevated Vikas Khanna to the post of national sales head of India News.

    Khanna was initially the senior vice president at India News. He will be responsible for driving the all India ad sales revenue of India News national and will continue to report to India News CEO Varun Kohli.

    Commenting on the elevation, iTV Network MD Kartikeya Sharma said, “We are delighted to elevate Vikas as the national sales head of India News. This elevation is in line with our commitment to growth. His skills and wide experience will surely help India News reach the next level of growth.”

    Kohli added, “Vikas has played an important role in India News sales and with his elevation as national sales head, India News, he will take on a wider role. His strong track record of delivering growth and his understanding of the industry will help us move forward on our path of continued success.”

    “I am delighted and honoured to have been given the responsibility of driving the ad sales revenue of India News National. In this fiercely competitive market, I shall strive to further strengthen the various revenue streams of India News and achieve a robust growth in the coming year,” Khanna said.

    Khanna previously worked with Network18 where he was responsible for the advertising sales of IBN 7 North region. He served India Today Group for six years and then moved to Times of India and thereafter to NDTV Media wherein he handled brands such as NDTV India, NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit.

  • Backed by three sponsors PWL can rake in over Rs 25 crore in debut year

    Backed by three sponsors PWL can rake in over Rs 25 crore in debut year

    MUMBAI: Kartikeya Sharma and Vishal Gurnani’s joint venture Pro-Sportify’s decision to foray into wrestling is off to a flying start. The league has roped in Dabur Chyawanprash as the title sponsor while cola giant Thums Up has joined in as powered by sponsor. Jaguar Lighting has also been roped in as co-sponsor. 

    Gurnani and Sharma are both buoyed by the preparation. “We are all set for Pro Wrestling League season 1, we kick off today at seven and its certain that the sport will emerge as a clear number two after cricket in India” said the duo.

    The telecast rights of the league is with Multi Screen Media (MSM) and the network is planning to dish out the tourney in three different channels. Sony Six will relay the English feed while Sony Pal and Sony Max will broadcast the Hindi commentary.

    The network in association with DDB Mudra has unveiled an intriguing campaign to garner high number of eyeballs. “We are extremely happy with the marketing campaign that they have done. Over 600,000 television minutes spread across numerous channel with separate creatives for man and woman. It cannot get any better” said the duo.  
        
          
    A senior media planner on condition of anonymity said, “Wrestling as a sport in popular in India, it’s just it has never been packaged properly. They are putting in some serious money and the network is also promoting it aggressively too. Moreover the league will be aired on Sony Pal which is an FTA available on Sony Pal so with BARC Rural data in now I won’t be surprised if they emerge as the number two after cricket. Overall in my opinion the first year will create the buzz, but the packaging and follow ups will decide the long term fate.”

    If sources are to be believed then the league has already raked in close to Rs 20 crore as sponsorship revenue and have a few deals are still at the last stage. “I think season one will generate close to Rs 25 crore. Which will be shared among Sony and Pro-Sportify. The broadcasting rights were given to MSM for a little more than 100 crore” said a source.          

    The league kick-starts today (10 December 2015) and will conclude on 27 December 2015. The matches are slotted at a prime time slot of 7 Pm.