ITV

Tag: Maharashtra

  • Sangeet Marathi gets license from I&B ministry; goes on air

    Sangeet Marathi gets license from I&B ministry; goes on air

    MUMBAI: The new Marathi music channel from Media Worldwide Limited finally began beaming on Indian television on 18 September at 9.50 pm after receiving its license from the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry.

     

    Called Sangeet Marathi, the channel will cater to music lovers in Maharashtra with regional and Marathi film songs. After Sangeet Bangla and Sangeeth Bhojpuri, this is Media Worldwide’s third offering to the regional music channels space.

     

    Sangeet Marathi has brought in Fair & Lovely from Hindustan Unilever as its exclusive launch partner and a series of activities are in store in the upcoming weeks surrounding the launch.

     

    “We all very excited about finally launching Sangeeth Marathi tonight. We will soon arrange press conferences across Maharashtra to bring the channel closer to people. Starting this Sunday, we have will also ensue large scale OOH promotions including billboards. We are also using our other channels in the network to spread the word out about Sangeet Marathi,” Media Worldwide Limited CEO Prashant Chothani told Indiantelevision.com, shortly after getting their license approved from the I&B ministry for the channel launch.

     

    “One can also expect some below the line activities across the state, where we plan to engage our viewers and get them familiar with Sangeet Marathi,” Chothani added.

  • United MediaWorks targets expansion to 350+ cinemas by March 2016

    United MediaWorks targets expansion to 350+ cinemas by March 2016

    MUMBAI: United MediaWorks’ patented product Digibutor, a digital cinema server is looking at expanding its reach across the country. The product, which so far had a presence in Gujarat and Bihar and tapped into Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand and Maharashtra earlier this year, has now set its sight on the West Bengal and Karnataka markets.

     

    The product, which was until now available in 150 theatres across Gujarat and Bihar, has expanded its reach to over 200 theatres under its belt. This includes . This includes movie halls in Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.     

     

    The digital distribution platform aims to expand its reach to over 350 theatres all over India by March 2016.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, United MediaWorks co-founder and joint MD Ashish Bhandari said, “We launched in West Bengal and Karnataka a week back and the reason behind choosing these states was to break the monopoly of digital cinema providers in the theatre market.”

     

    According to Bhandari, 10 – 15 per cent of cinema houses in rural India still works on analogue mode. “Not just this, south Indian movies dominate the market and so for now we are focusing more on single screens and individually owned multiplex theatres, so that we can break the monopoly and enter the market,” he added.

     

    The prime focus of Digibutor is to support the growth of media and entertainment industry with futuristic and scalable technology based products and services. It has a technology through which it encrypts content in 512 bit. The platform has a distinctive digital watermarking to get the highest level of security system. This can be installed in other digital cinema equipments at cinema halls, which helps curb piracy.

     

    United MediaWorks is not spending directly on the marketing of the product, but has collaborated with many local distributors of various states who are connected with producers, who then market the product. “Cinema advertising currently stands at Rs 480 crore. All over the country, there are 10,000 screens, of which 10 to 15 per cent are multiplexes, so our main focus is on advertising in single screen theatres. Cinema advertising is more efficient than television advertising, since it has a direct impact on consumers,” said VP – media sales Satish Mundhe.

     

    The company made an initial investment of $1 million and is now looking for investors. Bhandari said, “Before asking investors to invest, I wanted to set a benchmark for them so that it’s easy to grow from there. We are looking for investors from like minded people in the industry.”

     

    Launched in 2011, Digibutor was developed in 18 months at United MediaWorks Software Development and Research Center based in the US in association with Software Labs.

     

    “Digibutor is nothing but a digital cinema server. The product is different from others, as there is no central server. Not just this, the technology is extremely easy to use as compared to the other competing companies and its very user friendly as well,” concluded Bhandari.

  • It was Modi vs. the rest in Maharashtra: Nikhil Wagle

    It was Modi vs. the rest in Maharashtra: Nikhil Wagle

    My 10 takeaways from Maharashta Assembly election:

     

    1) The just concluded 2014 Assembly Elections in Maharashtra will go down as a historic development in the state’s politics, which has the potential to transform the face of Maharashtra. For the first time, a non-Congress party has reached a near majority. Since the inception of Maharashtra, BJP had never managed to reach the three-digit figure. Their highest number was 65 in 1995 when they formed the government with the help of their elder brother, Shiv Sena. But this time around, with 123 seats, BJP has inspired a tectonic change.

     

    2) The anger against the 15 years regime of Congress and NCP was palpable among the electorate. Serious corruption charges were labeled against the government, which they were unable to refute. Voters desperately wanted a change. The alternative was offered not by BJP, but by Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impact was experienced during the Lok Sabha elections. Modi filled the credibility vacuum created by local leaders like Sharad Pawar, Prithviraj Chavan, Ajit Pawar and so on. Voters believed in Modi and decided to give him a chance. This is not a verdict for BJP, but Modi. It was Modi verses the rest.

     

    3) In spite of Modi’s popularity, BJP could not reach the magic figure of 144 in the assembly of 288 members. BJP’s national president Amit Shah tried his best with his electoral arithmetic. But Shiv Sena was able to stop them in regions like Kokan. In Vidarbha, BJP won 44 out of 62 seats. It is a big achievement, but the expectations were higher. The last minute decision of dropping the demand of separate Vidarbha from their manifesto could have damaged BJP here. In north Maharashta too, BJP could not live up to the expectations due to their weak party machinery. The lack of credible indigenous leaders and fragile cadres at remote places are the reasons behind BJP not crossing the halfway mark.

     

    4) Political pundits are blaming Uddhav Thackeray for Shiv Sena’s debacle. But I don’t agree with them. In fact, this is the best performance of Shivsena after 1995 when they got 70 seats. This time around, they were able to win 63 in spite of Modi onslaught. Many thought that Shivsena would be swallowed by the Modi-juggernaut but it did not only survive the storm but came out with their self respect intact. Credit goes to aggressive campaigning by Uddhav and grassroot machinery of party.

     

    5) Was it development verses Marathi pride, where the emotional issue took a back seat? I again disagree. Development was never ever a focus in this campaign. It was about clean and trustworthy leadership, where Modi won the battle. But along with this, the issue of Marathi pride helped Shivsena to protect their strongholds in Mumbai, Thane and Kokan. In fact, they totally snatched this plank from Raj Thackeray’s MNS.

     

    6) As far as MNS is concerned, this election has been a big blow to them. Raj is more charismatic than Uddhav. His oratory skills are as good as his uncle. But elections are never conquered on charisma. Due to wrong policies and frivolous politics, Raj has reached this stage. He started well in 2006, but was not able to build the party. In 2009 assembly elections, he had 13 MLAs, now he is decimated to just one. It is time for him to introspect.

     

    7) Raj should introspect but if there is anyone who needs utmost introspection, it is Congress and NCP. They have reached their lowest ever number in assembly elections. Congress is a house divided and NCP is totally engrossed in their politics of money and muscle power.

     

    By declaring unconditional support to BJP, Sharad Pawar once again proved his ‘Pawar Power’, which a common voter will only perceive as shameless opportunistic politics.

     

    8) This election could possibly write another chapter in the history of criminalisation of politics in Maharashtra. 165 of 288 newly elected MLAs have serious criminal charges against them and most of them are crorepatis.

     

     9) The participation of women candidates has been disappointing. Only 20 women candidates will be seen in the assembly, which is 7 per cent of the total assembly strength of 288. One wonders if it is still appropriate to call Maharashtra a progressive state.

     

    10) This election will also mark a black chapter for media, which witnessed unprecedented ‘Paid News’. In spite of the monitoring by the Election Commission, nobody could nail this cancer. Political parties sniffed the opportunity and took maximum advantage of the situation. It has set a dangerous precedent and the credibility of the media suffered like never before.

     

    (These are purely personal views of Mi Marathi consultant and veteran journalist, Nikhil Wagle and indiantelevision.com does not subscribe to these views.)

  • CNN-IBN & IBN7 to cover Maharashtra & Haryana Assembly Elections’ Counting Day

    CNN-IBN & IBN7 to cover Maharashtra & Haryana Assembly Elections’ Counting Day

    MUMBAI: As the states of Maharashtra and Haryana along with the nation, awaits the verdict of the Assembly Elections on 19th October, CNN-IBN & IBN7 line up the most exhaustive programming for the Counting Day. After showcasing the Network’s prowess and brilliance during the coverage of General Elections 2014, the channels are now set to recreate the magic by bringing together the best team of journalists, finest panel of experts and unmatched television graphics.

    Commencing at 7am in the morning, this special coverage will include latest trends and developments, vote sharing percentage, seat tally and fastest updates from Ground Zero. The viewers will get the complete picture along with the minutest of details as there will be reporters on-ground covering each of the 378 seats of Maharashtra and Haryana. IBN Network will bring together the most formidable team of political analysts and experts including Ashok Malik, Pradeep Singh, Tavleen Singh, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Ramesh Vinayak, Dhiraj Nayyar and Girish Kuber to share their expertise and opinion on the mandate and simplify the voting maths for the viewers.

    This special day long programming will decode the election outcome that will decide the fate of both these states, in the most extensive way. Along with keeping a close track on the results, the channels will ensure that the viewers get every bit of information and details in the neatest and cleanest format.

    Do not miss this special Counting Day programming on CNN-IBN & IBN7 on 19th October 2014, 7 AM onwards, all through the day.

     

  • Times Now presents comprehensive analysis on the new India

    Times Now presents comprehensive analysis on the new India

    MUMBAI: India’s no.1 English News channel, TIMES NOW launches its exclusive show line-up for the State Elections 2014. With its resounding success as India’s Election News Headquarter during the General Elections 2014, the channel now aims to bring the most incisive coverage for the upcoming State elections for Haryana and Maharashtra.
     
    The special programming line-up has already started with Politics First that has set the context with highly engaging shows comprising of debates, analysis and discussions, on the expectations from the State Elections 2014. This will be followed by the action pack Voting Day coverage on October 15. The Polling Day show line-up will have Live reporters reporting from ground zero keeping the viewers updated on all the action taking place on the most awaited Stated Elections.
     
    On the Counting Day -19th October, TIMES NOW will bring Live results coverage to the viewers between 8am – 3pm followed by a Super Primetime Special Edition between 8pm-11pm, focusing on the outcome of the State Election.
     
    To catch all the action on the Maharashtra and Haryana State Elections 2014, stay tuned to TIMES NOW, on 15 & 19 October 2014.
     

  • Zee Marathi beefs up its late prime time slot

    Zee Marathi beefs up its late prime time slot

    MUMBAI: Zee Marathi, the no 1 channel in Maharashtra has beefed up its late prime time slot with the launch of 2 new shows at the 9 PM and 9.30 PM slot. The new shows will launch on 18th August 2014 and are expected to further fuel the growth of Zee Marathi. The show at 9 PM called ‘Ka Re Durava’ is a story of a married couple who work in the same organization but are unable to disclose the fact that they are married due to the rules of the organization. The 9.30 PM show; a light hearted non-fiction comedy Chala Hava Yeu Dya is a story of a mad family comprising of amnesic father played by Bhau Kadam and his 2 sons Nilesh Sable and Kushal Badrike. The show will have guests from the movie and theatre fraternity visiting the show and will be interspersed with interesting comic characters. Ka Re Durava airs Monday to Saturday while Chala Hava Yeu Dya will continue in the regular non-fiction slot of Monday & Tuesday.

    The channel has launched an extensive marketing campaign for both shows with heavy promotions across TV, print, radio and outdoor apart from focus on the digital medium. The campaign has an interesting hook to it which shows a happily married couple behaving like complete strangers once they step into their office space. An engagement initiative with the Mumbai Dabbawalas is planned in the city which sees the most incidences of married couple feeling the pain of distance and lack on time in their marriage.

    For Chala Hava Yeu Dya, the channel promo team has penned and shot a rap song that has quickly caught on with the masses. The song has been sung by Nilesh Sable and presents the characters in a never seen before avatar.

    Speaking on the launch of the 2 shows, Zee Marathi business head Deepak Rajadhyaksha said “Zee Marathi has always ensured that shows are not dragged beyond their life and have aimed at ending shows at a high always. The shows previously on these slots were coming to a natural end and we needed an apt replacement for the slots.”

    He added, “21:00 has always been a slot where we have got novel and very progressive concepts and the show Ka Re Durava is an attempt to highlight the status of today’s generation where a married couple has to balance their professional and personal lives. The show captures the modern day couple who both work with little or no time for each other and to top it they work in the same organization which adds to the complexity”. While Ka Re Durava is a love story; speaking on the new non-fiction comedy show Chala Hava Yeu Dya, Deepak adds “The show gives us the platform to add further muscle to the strong comedy franchise we have built. With this show we will not only provide unmatched humour to the viewers but also bring celebrities from the Marathi cinema and theatre fraternity to be part of the show”.

     

    Zee Marathi is aiming that the 2 shows will enrich its offerings and believes that adding another emotion to the existing range will strike a chord with the audience. The channel currently boasts of numbers that has put daylight between them and the nearest competitor and recently completed one year at the helm with no other Marathi channel able to reach the heights the channel achieved through successful show launches, events and big ticket movie premieres. Adding to the aura of the channel was the launch of a special slot for theatre which has proven yet again that Zee Marathi leads not just in numbers but in innovative programming and marketing initiatives which have propelled the channel to greater heights.

  • Eastern Condiments to spend Rs 20-25 crore on marketing and selling expenses

    Eastern Condiments to spend Rs 20-25 crore on marketing and selling expenses

    BENGALURU: Indian spice powder manufacturer and exporter Eastern Condiments (ECPL) plans to spend between Rs 20 to 25 crore towards marketing and selling expenses during this fiscal.

     

    The company recently brought on board FCB Ulka as its creative agency. It also has a special arrangement with the agency for media buying.

     

     “Unlike most other condiments brands, we plan to target rural India, because we see a big opportunity there. As disposable incomes go up in tier II and tier III cities, and more and more family members seek employment, even rural India will have no time to buy the condiments and then spend time processing them for kitchen use. We already see it starting to happen with edible oils and wheat flour,” reveals EPCL managing director Navas Meeran.

     

    Initially, though the push will be BTL, the company is chalking out plans for TV spots on channels like Asianet and Manorama in its home state Kerala. Media plans will be drawn for television commercials in states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the main TG for the company for now. Other states that the company plans to target are Haryana, Punjab as also pan-India.

     

    ECPL’s revenue last fiscal was Rs 560 crore, of which Rs 150 crore came through exports, Rs 125 crore from Kerala and the balance across various markets in India. Karnataka, which contributed Rs 70 crore to ECPL’s revenues is an important market for the company. To that extent, it launched three spice mix flavours that are a part of the staple food in the state – Vangi Bath, Bisibele Bath and Puliogare Bath.
     

    “We will have campaigns in the state for these new products,” said ECPL’s other managing director Firoz Mareen. “These products are more to the local tastes and media plans are under process for a campaign here. In spices and condiments we are already the number three player.”

     

    A few years ago, McCormick & Company, the US-based global leader in spices, herbs and flavourings picked up a 26 per cent stake in ECPL. “McCormick estimated the branded and the non-branded size of the spice and condiments market in India as Rs 45,000 crore,” reveals a source at ECPL. “The approximate size of the organized branded market is about $ 1 billion (about Rs 6000 crore),” adds the source.

  • Dish TV adds ‘Zing’ to Tripura market

    Dish TV adds ‘Zing’ to Tripura market

    KOLKATA: A month after launching its sub-brand ‘Zing’ in West Bengal and Orissa, direct-to-home (DTH) TV services provider, Dish TV, has introduced it in Tripura. The move is in keeping with Dish TV’s plans to expand its footprint in the eastern region of the country.

     

    “Zing digital TV has been launched in Tripura with 27 Bengali channels including Khobor 365 Din, the only satellite channel of Tripura,” said a Dish TV official, pointing out that at the time of its launch, Zing offered only 26 channels. More than 80 per cent of the population in Tripura speaks Bengali, he added.

     

    The official further said that Zing was a part of Dish TV’s strategy to search for newer ways to reach out to viewers through relatable content. “Besides content, all above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL) advertising, packaging and other marketing activities will be available in Bangla in Tripura as it is mainly a Bengali-speaking market,” he added.

     

    Apparently, Dish TV has earmarked an investment of Rs 7 crore for the 360-degree marketing campaign.

     

    Meanwhile, users can buy Zing from any Dish TV retailer for Rs 1,099, with packages available for Rs 175, Rs 249 and Rs 349.

     

    Going forward, Dish TV is likely to look at Gujarat and Maharashtra for expansion of its Zing sub-brand, as was reported by this website last month.

  • Cisco’s technology in six million digital homes of Den Networks

    Cisco’s technology in six million digital homes of Den Networks

    MUMBAI: As India slowly inches towards 100 per cent digitisation, it is the various cable and multi system operators who are to be applauded for the increase of digitisation in the country. One of the well known technology companies, Cisco has announced that its services have reached to six million pay-TV homes on Den Networks.

     

    Cisco’s conditional access and middleware has been used by Den Networks since 2008 in its set top boxes. A range of Videoscape technologies from Cisco are used to cater to its subscribers. Den’s digital head-ends, networking routers, switches and set top boxes have been procured from Cisco.

     

    Earlier this year, Cisco expanded its Videoscape TV services delivery platform to include new cloud video capabilities. This would help media companies increase revenue, reduce operating expenses and enhance agility.

     

    Den currently has about 30 million viewers across the country and is looking at increasing that number through phase III and IV of digitisation. Commenting on the partnership Den Networks CEO SN Sharma said, “It gives me immense pleasure, in this highly competitive market, to reach out to more than 30 million viewers through our digital cable TV services. We expect this number to increase significantly with the completion of the remaining phases of digitisation. Cisco’s global expertise in managing the end-to-end delivery of digital pay-TV solutions gives us a strong competitive edge and empowers us to enable new services and advanced features, resulting in satisfied subscribers and encouraging growth.”

     

    Cisco Service Provider Video Software Solutions Vice President Sales Asia Pacific Sue Taylor said, “Cisco is excited by the success of its customers and would like to congratulate Den for reaching such a major milestone. We anticipate that the current digitisation drive will spur us on to achieve many greater milestones, both in roll-out volume and technology deployment, with the introduction of many new features using the latest designs and technologies. This will lead to overall customer enjoyment in terms of the TV viewing experience.”

     

    Den’s footprint now stretches over 200 cities in India covering markets such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.