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Tag: Kevin Vaz

  • Viacom18 revamps leadership amid Disney merger

    Viacom18 revamps leadership amid Disney merger

    Mumbai: In a recent restructuring move, Kiran Mani, CEO of Viacom18’s digital arm, is poised to spearhead the brand’s digital and sports ventures, while Kevin Vaz, CEO-Broadcast, will take charge of content clusters across TV and digital platforms, as reported by various media outlets.

    This organisational shift follows the merger of Viacom18 and Star India through a joint venture announced on 28 February, which was initiated by Reliance Industries in collaboration with Disney. According to internal communications, Mani will extend his leadership to include Viacom18’s linear sports channels alongside his role as CEO of the digital division. With a background of 13 years at Google before joining Viacom18 last year, Mani will now oversee Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayraj, within this new organisational structure.

    Kevin Vaz, who joined Viacom18 in July last year following his departure from Disney Star in April, is also a key figure in this leadership transition. He will take on responsibility for the entire content business. Both Mani and Vaz will function as Co-CEOs within the media company.

    In tandem with these changes, Reliance and its affiliates will hold a 63.16 per cent stake in the joint venture, while Disney will maintain a 36.84 per cent stake, as per the terms of the deal. This consolidation will position the nation’s leading media company to operate two streaming services and approximately 120 television channels.

  • Streaming is seeing phenomenal growth in India: Prime Video India’s Sushant Sreeram

    Streaming is seeing phenomenal growth in India: Prime Video India’s Sushant Sreeram

    Mumbai: In a highly engaging panel curated on the opening day of FICCI FRAMES 2024 titled ‘Reinvent: Navigating the Future of the Media and Entertainment Industry’, Prime Video India country director Sushant Sreeram delved into the dynamic landscape of the streaming industry in India, exploring growth trends while highlighting Prime Video’s business and content commissioning strategy.

    Moderated by Ernst and Young partner Ashish Pherwani the panel began with a keynote from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting secretary Sanjay Jaju.  In addition to Sushant Sreeram, the panel saw the participation of industry leaders from multiple M&E sectors, including Prasar Bharti CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee chair and Viacom18 CEO – broadcast entertainment Kevin Vaz; FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee co-chair and Meta India VP and head Sandhya Devanathan; FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee co-chair and Warner Bros Discovery general manager – India & South Asia Arjun Nohwar, and Signpost India chairman & managing director Shripad Ashtekar.

    Responding to a question on key trends across SVOD, TVOD and AVOD business models, Sushant said, “Streaming is seeing phenomenal growth in India. It has, in fact, become a dominant use-case for internet in the country, and a large part of that growth is coming from outside the metros.  We have about as many people streaming content in India, as those watching linear TV. This is a very significant inflection point for the video streaming industry in India.”

    He went on to share, “Another key point to note is that there is no one single customer for streaming, our customers sit across the spectrum of accessibility, affordability, and the languages in which they prefer to consume entertainment. Therefore, our strategy for building solutions for India has always been to focus on “AND” solutions, rather than making choices between “this” or “that”. That is exactly why Prime Video’s entertainment hub – where all the different VODs come into play, continues to do incredibly well. In fact, India is one of the frontrunners on new customer adoption for Prime Video globally. Also, our Channels proposition, where consumers get access to content from popular streaming services with add-on subscriptions, has grown well, with more than 20 partners on the service. Further, our Movie Rentals service where consumers – both Prime members and those who aren’t yet Prime Members, can rent movies ala carte, is seeing great consumer uptake across the country. Mini TV, Amazon’s free ad-supported service, also posted steady great growth in 2023. When we think about how to serve India, we prioritize what is important for customers – great value, great selection, and convenience. It is true for what we do at Amazon overall and the same holds true for Prime Video as well.”

    Responding to a question on the cost of content, Sushant spoke about the fact Amazon and Prime Video is invested for the long-term in India. Elaborating on the same, he said, “It is important to place this in context – our investment thesis is built on developing this category over a fairly long period of time. That’s the time horizon that we operate with for all our investments at Amazon, and the same holds true for Prime Video. The second is that we want to create a category of great cinematic storytelling and we know that consumers value that. We realized that creating an ecosystem across the board, not just the service, but creators and the technical ecosystem is an investment that is well made.”

    He went on to add, “The other thing about our investment thesis is that we look at it through the lens of how we bring in customers to enjoy this multi-benefit proposition for Prime, which is a unique proposition for customers and Prime Video is a part of that. That changes how customers evaluate what is value for money, and that gives us the impetus to continue to make investments. And finally, we want to make all the great stories that we can, but we realize that we can’t make all of them. We’re therefore always excited about the collaborations that we can forge, with creators, Channel partners and studios to build out a true video entertainment marketplace. The fact that Prime Video has close to 100 projects right now in various stages of production and development is a clear indication that there is appetite for great stories in the country!”

    To wrap up the highly engaging session, each participant was asked their Mantra for 2024, to which Sushant replied, “For us, it’s still Day one!” Day one is both a culture and an operating model that puts the customer at the center of everything Amazon does. Day one is about being constantly curious, nimble, and experimental.

  • FICCI FRAMES 2024: #Reinvent: Navigating the future of media and entertainment industry

    FICCI FRAMES 2024: #Reinvent: Navigating the future of media and entertainment industry

    Mumbai: The Indian media and entertainment industry is witnessing significant changes, with shifting consumer preferences for high-quality content, new broadcasting technologies, pressures on advertising spend, and the advent of AI. The #Reinvent session at FICCI Frames 2024 examined the dynamics driving this transformation and explored a range of enabling policies designed to support an industry navigating through a period of significant upheaval.

    The keynote of this session was given by Ministry of I&B secretary Sanjay Jaju, who said, “As we move forward, the Government of India’s focus is on creating a conducive environment for the Media and Entertainment industry to thrive.”

    The session was moderated by Ernst and Young partner Ashish Pherwani.

    “In the last one year, the skilling ecosystem of Maharashtra has supported 48,000 youths from Maharashtra to be trained only in media and entertainment. This was something of a record under M&E skill council. A big thank you to Mangal Prabhat ji and his government for their proactive efforts to train rural and urban youths,” FICCI India AVGC-XR Forum chair Ashish Kulkarni.

    “Globally, the media and entertainment industry is witnessing remarkable shifts with digital innovation reshaping consumption patterns and content creation dynamics,” FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee chair and Viacom18 CEO – broadcast entertainment Kevin Vaz.

    “India is a significant priority market for Meta globally. We have invested considerable time in developing products tailored to the diverse needs of the hundreds of millions of people using our platforms. We are dedicated to serving both users and businesses by continually enhancing our offerings,” FICCI Media and Entertainment committee co-chair and Meta India VP and head Sandhya Devanathan.

    “There is no one single customer. Customers sit across a spectrum of accessibility, affordability, of languages in which they want to watch their entertainment and what their entertainment needs are. For us, building solutions for India has always been about what we need to build as an end solution and not making piecemeal choices,” Amazon Prime Video country head Sushant Sreeram.

    “Free dish has been growing continuously and consistently. In 2003, when it started, the industry was at a very nascent stage and it set the context for the rest of the industry to grow and develop,” Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Gaurav Dwivedi.

    “We usually focus on the who, what and where. Who is consuming us, what kind of content they are consuming and where do they prefer to consume. I think the new dynamic that is now emerging is for us to focus on when and traditionally linear TV networks didn’t focus on that. By when, I mean consumption patterns that are arising from the situation that you are in – like in an elevator, waiting for a bus or picking your child from school. And in that 30-second to five-minute moment, do you have content form that they find engaging,” FICCI media and entertainment committee co-chair and Warner Bros Discovery Sr VP and general manager  – India & South Asia Arjun Nohwar.

    “Out-of-home advertising is playing a great role in sustenance of smart cities because when we see any social spaces – roadside shelters, libraries or any basic first mile or last mile connectivity solutions, it is the responsibility and obligation of out-of-home player where they invest in basic infrastructure. It is beyond billboards and includes investing in smarter solutions like charging points too,” Signpost India chairman & MD Shripad Ashtekar.

  • AVGC policy to facilitate investments, foster innovation and contribute to building world-class infrastructure: Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, MIB

    AVGC policy to facilitate investments, foster innovation and contribute to building world-class infrastructure: Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, MIB

    MUMBAI: Sanjay Jaju, secretary, ministry of information and broadcasting, Govt of India today said that the media and entertainment industry play a pivotal role in shaping our society, influencing our perspectives, and has a multiplier effect on our economy. “The sector is renowned for its creativity, innovation, and cultural richness. It serves as a beacon not only for our nation but also for the world,” he added.

    Addressing the ‘FICCI FRAMES 2024’,   Jaju stated that the government recognizes the pivotal role that the Indian media and entertainment sector plays in shaping our society, influencing our perspectives, and reflecting our collective efforts. “India is going through a digital transformation phase and the sector is also witnessing rapid shifts with the availability of content which is online,” he stated. We are also witnessing a rapid increase in foreign investments especially in the OTT segment which paves the way for looking at this segment as a chief contributor to India’s soft power, noted   Jaju.

    Speaking on the various government initiatives along with the AVGC policy, Jaju further emphasised that the policy is now in an advanced stage. “I can assure you that this policy is not only going to facilitate investments within our country and the states but will also foster innovation. It will ensure skill development and help protect intellectual property and will also contribute to building world-class infrastructure. We also envisage setting up of National Center of Excellence for animation, VFX, and extended reality sector along with setting up incubation centres,” he added.

    Jaju further highlighted that the government is giving a thrust for foreign filmmakers to make films in India. “The Indian media and entertainment sector not only has huge growth potential but also brings in a lot of employment. Our focus will be on creating a conducive environment for the industry to thrive. All stakeholders need to collaborate and innovate to capitalize on the huge opportunities,” he noted.

    Govt of Maharashtra minister of skill development and entrepreneurship Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that the realisation of ‘Viksit Bharat’ depends on the collective contribution of everyone, and skilling is integral to the future of our country.

    An Indian actress Rani Mukerji said that FICCI FRAMES 2024 has set the agenda for an ever-changing media and entertainment industry. “The pandemic forced us to adapt, innovate, and reimagine the ways in which we connect with audiences. As consumer preferences evolve, there is a growing demand for unique and innovative content delivery,” she added.

    FICCI and vice chairman, RPG group vice president Anant Goenka said that FICCI FRAMES 2024 has been a cornerstone over the years, significantly influencing the trajectory of India’s media and entertainment industry. The Indian media and entertainment sector has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, and the digital revolution has reshaped our industry.

    FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee and CEO of broadcast and entertainment, Viacom 18, chair Kevin Vaz, said that the road ahead for the industry is brimming with possibilities and challenges alike. The integration of artificial intelligence promises to reshape the landscape of content creation, distribution, and consumption, particularly generative AI, which is now an inexorable part of M&E supply chains, he added.

    AVGC-XR committee chair Ashish Kulkarni, FICCI delivered the vote of thanks.

  • The Indian M&E sector anticipated to achieve Rs 3.1 trillion by 2026: FICCI-EY report

    The Indian M&E sector anticipated to achieve Rs 3.1 trillion by 2026: FICCI-EY report

    Mumbai: The latest FICCI-EY report titled ‘#Reinvent: India’s media & entertainment sector is innovating for the future’, launched at the FICCI FRAMES 2024 in Mumbai, revealed that the Indian M&E sector grew by eight per cent in 2023, reaching Rs 2.3 trillion (US$27.9 billion), 21 per cent above its pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

    New media, comprising digital and online gaming, emerged as the frontrunner in growth, contributing Rs 122 billion of the overall increase of Rs 173 billion, and consequently, increased its contribution to the M&E sector from 20 per cent in 2019 to 38 per cent in 2023.

    Experiential (outside the home and interactive) segments continued their strong growth in 2023, and consequently, online gaming, filmed entertainment, live events, and OOH media segments grew at a combined 18 per cent, contributing 48 per cent of the total growth. With the exception of television, which experienced a marginal decline of 2 per cent, all other segments experienced positive growth in 2023.

    FICCI Media and Entertainment committee chairman and Viacom 18 chief executive officer – broadcast entertainment Kevin Vaz said, “India is a unique market where the M&E sector distinguishes itself through a harmonious fusion of tradition and innovation. Here, technology-enhanced entertainment channels, OTT platforms, AI-powered newsreaders, traditional print media, flagship films, and short-form content not only coexist but thrive together, showcasing the vibrant diversity and dynamic growth of our industry. The Government of India’s thrust on improving digital infrastructure in the country combined with our ambition to be at the forefront of the next big technological thrust in media and entertainment, our sector is primed for a massive transformation.”

    EY India partner and media & entertainment leader Ashish Pherwani said, “I believe the M&E sector is at the “inflection point” we foresaw in 2018, with the dominance of digital channels over traditional media. In 2023, new media comprised 52 per cent of total advertising revenues, yet, unlike in many other countries, Indian traditional media also grew. This underscores the unique Indian market where while we are witnessing a seismic shift towards digital consumption, there is still adequate headroom for traditional media to grow.”

    Key highlights:

    Indian advertising reached Rs1.1 trillion:

    Digital advertising grew 15 per cent in 2023 and surpassed traditional advertising for the first time. Social, sports, e-commerce and SME advertisers will continue to drive growth in the sector moving forward.

    A billion screens by 2030:

    India is expected to have almost a billion active screens by 2030. Of these, around 240 million will be large (TV, laptop, PC), while the remaining will be small (mobile phones, phablets). pay TV, free TV, and connected TV are expected to emerge as significant markets, each comprising between 60 to 80 million homes. The 3:1 ratio in favour of mobile phones will sustain the demand for short videos and social commerce.

    Online gaming is expected to reach Rs 388 billion by 2026:

    The segment will see growth across all its verticals, including esports, fantasy sports, casual gaming, and other games of skill to reach an estimated 150 million daily users. Revenue growth will be led by mobile-based real-money gaming and casual gaming.

    Segmental performance in 2023

      . Television: Linear viewership increased by two per cent over 2022, the number of smart TVs connected to the internet each week rose to 19 to 20 million, up from around 10 million in 2022. Television advertising declined by 6.5 per cent due to a slowdown in spending by gaming and D2C brands, impacting revenues for premium properties. The Hindi-speaking market (HSM) experienced softness, resulting in a three per cent overall ad volume de-growth. However, subscription revenue saw growth after three years of decline, driven by price increases, despite a decrease of two million pay TV homes.

     .  Digital advertising: Digital advertising grew 15 per cent to reach Rs 576 billion, constituting 51 per cent of total advertising revenues. This figure includes advertising by SME and long-tail advertisers totalling over Rs 200 billion, and advertising earned by e-commerce platforms amounting to Rs 86 billion.

     .  Digital subscription: Digital subscription grew 9 per cent to reach Rs 78 billion accounting for a third of 2022’s 27 per cent growth, as premium cricket properties were moved in front of paywalls. Paid video subscriptions decreased by two million in 2023 to 97 million, across 43 million households in India. However, paid music subscriptions grew from five million to eight million, generating Rs 3 billion, while online news subscriptions generated Rs 2 billion.

     .  Print: Contrary to the global trend, print media continued to thrive in India, with advertising revenues growing by four per cent in 2023. Notably, there was significant growth in premium ad formats, as print remained a preferred medium for affluent metro and non-metro audiences. Subscription revenues also grew by three per cent due to rising cover prices.

     .  Online gaming: The segment’s growth slowed to 22 per cent in 2023, reaching Rs 220 billion. It surpassed filmed entertainment to become the fourth largest segment. India saw over 450 million online gamers, with approximately 100 million playing daily. Over 90 million gamers paid to play, with real money gaming comprising 83 per cent of segment revenues. Larger players absorbed the impact of a higher GST levy, hurting their margins but safeguarding growth.

     .  Film: The segment grew 14 per cent to reach Rs 197 billion in 2023. Over 1,796 films were released in 2023, and theatrical revenues reached an all-time high of Rs 120 billion. The number of screens grew four per cent. 339 Indian films were released overseas.

     .  Animation and VFX: The Hollywood writers’ strike impacted global supply chains, and consequently, the segment grew just six per cent in 2023. Potential mergers and falling ad revenues also reduced the slate of animated content produced for broadcast in India. A revival in demand in the second half of the year led to growth, boosted by the trend of using more VFX in Indian content.

     .  Live events: The organized segment grew 20 per cent exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Growth was driven by government events, personal events, weddings, and ticketed events, including several international formats and acts that came to India.

     .  OOH: OOH media grew by 13 per cent in 2023, surpassing its 2019 levels. Growth was led by premium properties and locations. Active digital OOH screens crossed 1,00,000 contributing nine per cent of total segment revenues.

      . Music: The Indian music segment grew by 10 per cent to reach Rs 24 billion in 2023, slower than previous years as certain music OTT platforms went pay and stopped or reduced their free services. 87 per cent of revenues were earned through digital means, though most of it was advertising led on YouTube, there being around only eight million paying subscribers despite music streaming’s reach of 185 million.

     .  Radio: Radio segment revenues grew by 10 per cent in 2023 reaching Rs 23 billion. This growth was driven by increased retail and local advertising, as well as alternate revenue streams. Ad volumes increased by 19 per cent in 2023 as compared to the previous year, although ad rates remained below their 2019 levels.

  • FICCI appoints Arjun Nohwar as co-chair of FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee

    FICCI appoints Arjun Nohwar as co-chair of FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee

    Mumbai: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has appointed Arjun Nohwar as the co-chair of the FICCI Media & Entertainment Board. Currently the general manager for India & South Asia for Warner Bros Discovery, Nohwar oversees the business in the region, leading operations across a diverse portfolio of global brands and networks in kids, entertainment, sports, and infotainment genres. This includes iconic brands such as Discovery, Animal Planet, Eurosport, Cartoon Network, POGO, Discovery Kids, DC, and the discovery+ streaming service.

    Elaborating on his vision for the industry, Nohwar said, “Accepting the mantle of Co-Chair at FICCI’s Media & Entertainment committee is an honour for me and I look forward to engaging with industry leaders, government stakeholders, and policy makers. Together, with a shared commitment, we aspire to build synergies that not only guide our industry towards unparalleled growth but also solidify its standing as a global leader. In this endeavour, I look forward to working closely with Kevin Vaz ( hair) and Sandhya Devanathan (co-chair), leveraging our collective expertise to chart a visionary course for the industry. FICCI’s steadfast dedication to fostering collaboration and shaping progressive policies is laudable, and I am particularly excited about the prospect of contributing to the dynamic evolution of the Indian Media & Entertainment landscape.”

    Nohwar has a robust background of working across technology and consumer facing sectors. He has worked at Uber, Tata Sons, several Tata companies as a TAS Manager, and at the Planning Commission of India. Prior to his role at Warner Bros Discovery,  Nohwar was the APAC Regional GM for Uber’s SaaS business. Nohwar is on the Advisory Board of AMBA, a social enterprise that works to provide economic independence to the intellectually challenged, he routinely advises startups and lectures at educational institutes.

  • FICCI appointments Kevin Vaz as chairman of FICCI media & entertainment committee

    FICCI appointments Kevin Vaz as chairman of FICCI media & entertainment committee

    Mumbai: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) announced the appointment of Kevin Vaz, CEO – broadcast entertainment, Viacom18 as the chairman of FICCI media & entertainment committee.

    Vaz, a highly accomplished executive with nearly three decades of experience in the Media & Entertainment industry, joined Viacom18 in July 2023 as CEO – broadcast entertainment. In his current capacity, he oversees the media company’s broadcast business, film studio, merchandising business, live entertainment, and regional entertainment on Viacom18’s digital (OTT) platform. Vaz’s visionary leadership and strategic insight have already begun elevating the company’s television viewership, scaled up revenue realization, and significantly increased the network’s overall market share across genres and geographies.

    FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee for the last 25 years has been the principal force behind major policy changes and working towards fostering growth, advocating for favourable policies, and promoting the overall development of the sector and its allied ecosystems. The committee has been chaired by Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Uday Shankar, Sanjay Gupta and Jyoti Deshpande in the past.

    FICCI deputy secretary general Leena Jaisani said, “FICCI, as the apex industry association, has consistently led the charge in fostering collaborations with diverse stakeholders within the realms of Indian commerce and government.  In navigating the complexities of this dynamic landscape, FICCI remains steadfast in its commitment to driving meaningful policy discussions and facilitating their effective adoption, thereby shaping a vibrant and progressive future for the media and entertainment sector in India. FICCI is confident that Mr Vaz, with his wealth of experience, will bring fresh perspectives and contribute significantly to the continued growth of the media & entertainment industry.”

    Chairman broadcast entertainment, Viacom18 and FICCI media and entertainment committee & CEO Kevin Vaz  said, “The Indian media and entertainment industry is at an interesting tipping point in time. While the interplay of technology, content and consumer behaviour is reshaping the very definition of the sector, in India there is a clear headroom for growth across categories and a confluence of interests between multiple players in the ecosystem. At a global stage, the soft power inherent to our industry can act as a leverage multiplier to India’s growing cultural influence. I feel honoured to be given the responsibility to lead this committee and look forward to interacting with stakeholders across the board to further our sector’s footprint.”

    The dynamic committee includes promoters and CEOs from various verticals such as TV and radio broadcast, film production & exhibition, print, animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, AR/VR/MR (AVGC-XR), digital entertainment events, OOH, among others.

    Vaz along with the Media and Entertainment committee will be engaging with the industry at FICCI FRAMES 2024 scheduled from 5 to 7 March 2024 in Mumbai.
     

  • COLORS & Ministry of Women and Child Development join forces to support ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative

    COLORS & Ministry of Women and Child Development join forces to support ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative

    Mumbai: COLORS, India’s leading Hindi GEC, has announced its collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative, to address the issue of girl child abandonment, through the launch of its new fiction show Doree. Television as a medium has played a huge role in holding a mirror to society and led to many women becoming agents of change. With an aim to bring societal change and address the gender bias against girl child, through this association COLORS aims to raise awareness about the social evil of girl child abandonment. In addition to launching a primetime show on the subject, as part of this association, COLORS will promote the 24-hour emergency toll-free Childline India helpline number (1098) for those seeking assistance for any abandoned girl child across the nation. Doree, airing every Monday to Friday at 9:00 pm on COLORS, aims to generate popular conversation and thereby raise awareness on the issue of girl child abandonment.

    Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs  Smriti Irani said, “Just as a nation’s progress is defined by how it treats its women and children, similarly entertainment’s impact is defined by how it can change mindsets. Under the guidance of our honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has made great strides through the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative in changing the way girl child is perceived. I’m glad that our country’s foremost entertainment channel COLORS has joined in this initiative to create a show, Doree on the important but often overlooked issue of girl child abandonment. The channel will be raising awareness of our Childline India 1098 helpline amongst viewers and provide the much-needed popular support to this initiative.”

    Viacom18 CEO – broadcast entertainment Kevin Vaz said, “We are honoured to be partnering with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to raise awareness about the prevalent issue of girl child abandonment through our new show, Doree and the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative. As the country’s most watched primetime entertainment destination, joining forces with the ministry to promote the Childline helpline number through our show is poised to catalyse meaningful behavioural change in society.  We are hopeful that Doree will touch the lives of millions of viewers and bring focus on the social evil of girl child abandonment.”

    The social drama revolves around a six-year-old Doree fighting against a patriarchal society for her rights and features popular television actors Amar Upadhyay as Ganga Prasad, Sudhaa Chandran as Kailashi Devi Thakur, and child actor Mahi Bhanushali as Doree.

    Let’s pledge to bring a change in society with ‘Doree’ premiering tonight at 9 pm and thereafter every Monday to Friday only on COLORS.

  • After two years of muted celebrations, India’s festive spirit is back once again: Disney-Star India’s Kevin Vaz

    After two years of muted celebrations, India’s festive spirit is back once again: Disney-Star India’s Kevin Vaz

    Mumbai: With the return to normalcy and restrictions having been lifted, broadcasters are upbeat about revenue growth during the festive season. Disney Star head of network entertainment channels, Kevin Vaz, is no exception. He tells Indiantelevision.com that the festive season this year is one of the best so far.

    “The sentiment of both the viewers and the advertisers is extremely positive. As a network, we have always celebrated the festive season with much fervour, and our goal this year is to up the entertainment quotient for our viewers when families sit down to watch their favourite content together. This year, we have an exciting content line-up across our Hindi and regional channels to ensure the same. With our strategically planned content pipeline, this festive season, we aim to enhance the viewing experience with more exciting content and build a deeper connection with our viewers. “

    Talking about how he sees the overall TV Adex faring during the festive season, he said that the overall market is extremely positive. “After two years of muted celebrations owing to the pandemic, India’s festive spirit is back once again. There is a great deal of optimism in the market this year and brands are eager to spend.”

    When asked about price hikes that the broadcast industry has gone for, he pointed out that local advertisers have come back after two years and high pricing categories are also reviving, which is adding to the AdEx this festive season. “Also, to ensure higher absorption capabilities, we have lined up our best festive content to entertain the viewers. There are various tentpole properties, festive events, and blockbuster movies planned, improving the overall monetisation capacities of the broadcasters. The advertisers will leverage these to reach out to their customers during the festive season, thus driving overall adex growth.”

    When asked if inflation has been a challenge to yield maximisation during the festive season, he explained that brands have not had the opportunity to engage with their target audience in the last two years and this year there is no stopping them.

    He elaborated on the strategy to work with national and local brands in India. Onam always sets the tone for the festive season. He said, “From what we have witnessed on our Malayalam channels, I can say the season is off to a great start. There is a rise in the local/retail sectors coming forward, aided by positive consumer sentiment. Similarly, Ganesh Chaturthi and Dasshera were great for Star Pravah and Star Jalsha, respectively. All of this has already paved the way for the upcoming Diwali outputs.”

    He also noted that there is more brand integration compared to last year. “Brands are increasingly looking for innovative brand solutions to engage the audience. Maruti Suzuki launched its latest car, the Grand Vitara, on Star Plus’ non-fiction show Ravivaar with Star Parivaar. Reliance Trends collaborated with us on Star Jalsha to launch the celebratory campaign, Trends Saj Parbon 2022, to usher in the spirit of Durga Puja and inclusivity. We are also seeing brands like Flipkart and Max Fashion doing vignettes to increase their festive sales.”

    In terms of spending by various categories, he said that categories like consumer durables, electronics, retail, jewellery, fashion, and lifestyle are going all out this season. “These categories provide the boost and make the difference between a festive quarter and a regular quarter. Some categories have not been able to advertise for the last two years; they are coming back with a bang.”

    When asked about how much of TV’s annual ad spend happens during the festive season, normally, he said that in the last two years, the share of TV’s annual spend during the festive season increased drastically due to other months impacted by the pandemic. “This year we are seeing similar trends to the pre-pandemic year 2019, where the share during the festive quarter was higher than other quarters marked by categories like consumer durables, electronics, retail, jewellery, fashion, and lifestyle.”

    “The festive season is a great time for categories like consumer durables, electronics, retail, jewellery, fashion, and lifestyle to advertise. While the regular categories like FMCG and e-commerce continue to advertise all year round, it is these categories that drive the festive spending.”

    He, however, added that the biggest icing on the cake is the auto industry. “Normally we would see two or three manufacturers advertising during Onam. But this year, every manufacturer was advertising. That will be the standout category this time. In fact, Maruti Suzuki launched its latest car, the Grand Vitara, on Star Plus’ non-fiction show Ravivaar with Star Parivaar.“

    Content line-up

    For Onam celebrations, Asianet had a line-up of movies and shows like Bro Daddy, Bheeshma, Twenty One, and Lalitham Sundaram. During the season, the channel brought special non-fiction formats, including cookery and celebrity chat shows.

    Asianet announced the tagline “Anudinam Valarunna Atmabandham” (a relationship that grows every day). The theme and proposition of Onam, he explains, was to help Malayalis celebrate with the best entertainment on offer – blockbusters, events, Onam themed shows etc.

    In Maharashtra, viewers witnessed Star Pravah Ganeshutsav 2022 to welcome Ganesh Chaturthi. In West Bengal, the prime attraction was Mahalaya. This was a two-hour pre-festive event paying special tribute to Devi Durga, and Vaz said that it witnessed more colour and energy.

    Star Jalsha launched a non-fiction show called Dance Dance Junior Season Three (on 6 August) in Bengal, in which the participants celebrated Durga Puja through the dance medium.

    Tamil and Telugu audiences were delighted by the grand and much loved show Bigg Boss at Star Maa on 4 September and at Star Vijay on 2 October. 

    In Hindi, Star Plus launched Rajjo on 22 August.

    For movie-loving audiences, blockbusters were aired across the Disney Star network – Vikram (Star Gold, Star Vijay, Star Maa, Star Suvarna and Asianet), Akshay Kumar starrer Samrat Prithviraj and Ranbir Kapoor’s Shamshera (Star Gold), Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal on Star Vijay, Kishmish & Belashuru on Star Jalsha.

  • NatGeo commemorates Earth Day with ‘One for Change’ campaign

    NatGeo commemorates Earth Day with ‘One for Change’ campaign

    Mumbai: National Geographic has announced the launch of its one-of-its-kind initiative titled ‘One for Change’ to commemorate Earth Day. The initiative will showcase a series of short films, spotlighting the stories of ten changemakers who have taken extraordinary steps to save the planet and make the world a better place.

    Premiering 22 April on the television platforms of National Geographic and the entertainment channels across Disney Star, the films will also be released on National Geographic social media handles that have a combined following of over 10 million in India.

    With an aim to inspire and encourage viewers to take that one step and ‘be the one for change’, the stories will focus on the journey of these passionate individuals and get the viewers acquainted with their lives, their passions and shine a light on what pushed them to follow the path of planet conservation.

    “Furthering the knowledge and understanding of our world is at the core of National Geographic. Through the years, we have helped our viewers better understand and care about our world, with our thought provoking and fact based narratives,” said Disney Star head – network entertainment channels Kevin Vaz. “With ‘One for Change’, we wanted to uplift and inspire our viewers, through the remarkable stories of incredible individuals, from across the country, who have taken that first step and more, towards loving our planet.”  

    “Given the nature and the purpose behind the initiative, we will have the might of the entire entertainment channels at Disney Star championing the films across our channels and give them the thrust they need to reach out to millions of our audiences. With this, we hope that these stories of passion, triumph and sheer love for our Mother Earth and its people will ignite a spark and inspire all planet lovers to take that one little step towards building a sustainable and hopeful future for the Earth,” he further added.

     The ten changemakers featured in the series are:

    •     Vani Murthy- Known as the Worm Queen, Murthy is spreading awareness about the importance of composting
    •     Purnima Barman Devi- The leader of the Hargila Army, working towards the protection of endangered Greater Adjutant Stork
    •     Tejas Sidnal – An architect who has innovated a unique tile that is made from carbon waste
    •     Venkatesh Charloo – A pioneering marine conservationist, helping in coral restoration in Goa
    •     Vidyut Mohan – 2020 ‘UNEP Young Champion of the Earth’, Mohan has created a machine that converts waste farm residue into products of value for farmers
    •     Varsha Raikar – RJ with Radio Bundelkhand who raises awareness against climate change
    •     Rukmani Katara- CEO of a solar company, igniting a renewable energy revolution in rural India
    •     Poonam & Aditya Singh- A couple that is rewilding barren land on the outskirts of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve as a buffer between man and animal
    •     Thulasi Gouda- Padma Shri winner Gouda has been preserving forests in her village for 50 years and is called the living encyclopedia of the forests
    •     Sonam Wangchuk- An eco-architect who has pioneered the creation of carbon neutral structures in Ladakh using elements from nature