ITV

Tag: Naveen Chandra

  • TCH 2022: Language no barrier to consume South content, only quality

    TCH 2022: Language no barrier to consume South content, only quality

    Mumbai: The unending reservoir of talent emerging from the South across languages like Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada indicates that language is no longer a barrier in the consumption of content, only quality. Experts discuss the implications of the South content market boom at Viacom18 presents The Content Hub Summit 2022 organised by Indiantelevision.com.

    What genres and stories are directors and producers from the South working on? The answer to this lies in a panel discussion that brought together the prominent creators of south-based content.

    The Content Hub Summit 2022 is co-powered by Applause Entertainment and IN10 Media Network. Aaj Tak Connected Stream is the association partner. Industry partners are Fremantle India, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, One Take Media, Pratilipi, Pocket FM and The Viral Fever. The Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA) is our community partner.

    The session was on the topic ‘The South Content Mantra: Regionalization at its Best’ and was chaired by 91 Film Studios founder and CEO Naveen Chandra. He was joined by Indian film producer and Guru Films founder and CEO Sunitha Tati, MMTV CEO P.R. Satheesh and AHA head-non-subscription Nitin Burman.

    The session moderator, Naveen Chandra opened with the question, “how can a 3.5 crore audience-Malayalam film industry make a 100-crore film? For that we need to find out how consumer habits transformed and what changes happened during the pandemic.”

    Panellists think that pandemic has changed the consumption habits dramatically and the growth of OTT platforms has bridged the gap between the masses and South India content.

    AHA head-non-subscription Nitin Burman opined that the craze for South movies is not recent. It has been there for a long time but it’s the numbers which have notably spiked now. “Earlier, access to this content was not there for the general audience,” he added.

    Indian film producer and Guru Films’ Sunitha Tati said that the way we look at the content is changing. “Post-pandemic, we distinguish between stories on whether it’ll draw audiences to the theatres or do we need to take it to the people on OTTs,” she said. Talking about the unique marketing strategy she remarked, “we actually learnt marketing from Bollywood, but we took it to the next level.”

    Talking about the growth of the South content industry MMTV CEO P.R. Satheesh said that people are now very particular about the quality of content. He noted, “it’s no longer about language. Language is no longer a barrier- it’s the quality of content that matters. And as we talk about the quality of content, the South industry is in its best stage right now,” he added.

    Watch the complete video of the discussion below.

  • Disney+ Hotstar announces first Telugu series ‘Parampara’

    Disney+ Hotstar announces first Telugu series ‘Parampara’

    Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar has announced its first Telugu Hotstar special “Parampara.” The streaming service has shared a teaser for the new series on Instagram.

    Directed by Krishna Vijay L, the series will feature actors Jagapathi Babu, Sarath Kumar, Naveen Chandra, Ishan, and Aakanksha Singh. Produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni of Arka Mediaworks Production, “Parampara” is based on familial infighting and generational bad blood and brings forth emotions loaded in an action-packed series.

    “Parampara is a passionate project and a format I was eager to experiment with a story so well written, bringing together a ravishing ensemble cast including big guns like actors Jagapathi Babu and Sarath Kumar,” said director Krishna Vijay L. “Telugu audiences love family drama and action; with this series have brought the two genres together to build out a story that is gripping and heart-wrenching in parts.”

  • Times Network international biz head Naveen Chandra moves on

    Times Network international biz head Naveen Chandra moves on

    MUMBAI: Times Network’s international business head Naveen Chandra has stepped down and will be serving his last day on 28 February. He confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com.

    Chandra has been associated with Times Group for over 16 years. Previous to Times Network, he worked as head, strategy and new initiatives at Times Global Broadcasting Company (TGBCL), the parent company of Times Network. He joined Radio Mirchi as executive VP and National sales director.

    Overall, he has 25 years of experience in business operations, sales and marketing across broadcast tv, radio, print, internet and digital mediums across Indian and international markets.

    Before Radio Mirchi, he worked with Sesa Seat for over a decade.

    Earlier this year, Times Network has also appointed Amitabh Biswas as head of marketing, English entertainment cluster. In his role, Amitabh will lead the brand and media strategy for the Network’s English entertainment channels (Movies Now, Romedy Now, MNX and MN+) across platforms.

  • Times Network in 100 countries now; launches two channels in Europe

    Times Network in 100 countries now; launches two channels in Europe

    CANNES: Times Network, a part of India’s largest media conglomerate, The Times Group, is set to launch two of its channels in Europe, marking its presence in over 100 countries.

    The network will launch Times Now, India’s most popular English News Channel and Zoom — India’s No. 1 Bollywood channel, on the Bobbles Media GmbH DTH and OTT platforms in Europe. This will enable them to reach into territories like Europe including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

    Backed by Bennett, Coleman & Co, the Times Networks’s International Business recently received the ‘Porter Prize 2016’ for ‘Creating Distinctive Value’. It will be the fastest Indian TV network to cross the 100 country mark in under five years. Within under a year of its launch in the UK, where it reaches Engliand’s 1.4m Indians, the network is all geared up for further expansion in Europe.

    Times Network head, international business, Naveen Chandra, said, “From Times Now’s commercial launch in Australia in early 2011 to its launch in Western Europe this month has been an incredible journey for the Network. We now reach over 10mn Indians globally. We are also all set to launch our first local content initiatives in Europe and look forward to growing aggressively in the region.”

    Times Now commands 43% market share in the English News category, and 58% overall market share during prime time English News, according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.

    Zoom, a trendsetter in its genre, is available across five continents and 83 countries worldwide and also has a wide presence in the social media space.

    Times Network houses upscale brands including; Times Now, ET Now, Magicbricks Now, Moview Now, MN+ – The Gold class of Hollywood; Romedy Now. The network delivers segmented and differentiated content under one umbrella. It informs, entertains and engages over 100 million urban affluent viewers in India and is available in over 82 countries across the globe.

  • Times Network in 100 countries now; launches two channels in Europe

    Times Network in 100 countries now; launches two channels in Europe

    CANNES: Times Network, a part of India’s largest media conglomerate, The Times Group, is set to launch two of its channels in Europe, marking its presence in over 100 countries.

    The network will launch Times Now, India’s most popular English News Channel and Zoom — India’s No. 1 Bollywood channel, on the Bobbles Media GmbH DTH and OTT platforms in Europe. This will enable them to reach into territories like Europe including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

    Backed by Bennett, Coleman & Co, the Times Networks’s International Business recently received the ‘Porter Prize 2016’ for ‘Creating Distinctive Value’. It will be the fastest Indian TV network to cross the 100 country mark in under five years. Within under a year of its launch in the UK, where it reaches Engliand’s 1.4m Indians, the network is all geared up for further expansion in Europe.

    Times Network head, international business, Naveen Chandra, said, “From Times Now’s commercial launch in Australia in early 2011 to its launch in Western Europe this month has been an incredible journey for the Network. We now reach over 10mn Indians globally. We are also all set to launch our first local content initiatives in Europe and look forward to growing aggressively in the region.”

    Times Now commands 43% market share in the English News category, and 58% overall market share during prime time English News, according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.

    Zoom, a trendsetter in its genre, is available across five continents and 83 countries worldwide and also has a wide presence in the social media space.

    Times Network houses upscale brands including; Times Now, ET Now, Magicbricks Now, Moview Now, MN+ – The Gold class of Hollywood; Romedy Now. The network delivers segmented and differentiated content under one umbrella. It informs, entertains and engages over 100 million urban affluent viewers in India and is available in over 82 countries across the globe.

  • Creating distinctive value: Times Network wins Porter prize

    Creating distinctive value: Times Network wins Porter prize

    MUMBAI: Times Network was recently awarded one of the most coveted corporate awards, Porter Prize 2016, which aims to recognize strategic acumen of corporates in India. The Porter Prize Award in creating distinctive value category was received by Times Network MD and CEO M K Anand and head of international business Naveen Chandra in the august presence of the minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha at an event held in Delhi.

    The award honoured Times Network International business for their outstanding performance in the industry, ability to offer unique solutions to customers, effectively creating new market spaces, segments and providing solutions that redefine the market.

    Anand said, “With over 100 million English viewers, Times Network is the most powerful media platform to influence opinion makers in and about India. We realize that beyond nurturing a profitable business we are also in a unique position to speak to our audiences and effect positive change in the Social and Economic spheres through our powerful channels.”

    Porter Prize is organized in honour of the renowned philosopher, thinker, Harvard faculty member and the father of the modern strategic field, Michael E Porter. The central idea of the Porter Prize is to propel companies to compete on the basis of value creation, innovation and strategy and has a robust three-stage process of making an application, strategy audit and jury evaluation.

    Chandra added, “Times Network has reached over 80 countries on five continents in just under five years building distinctive value for the business. The Indian diaspora globally is a very potent audience and we have built many high impact engagement platforms for the diaspora.”

    The network that expanded its operations in UK last November, now delivers segmented and differentiated content to over 1.4 million viewers in UK. Internationally, the network is present across 83 countries in the world and has an aggressive expansion plan to start operations in France and Germany, in the near future. In India, the channel engages with over 100 million urban affluent viewers and its network channels enjoy an undisputed leadership in the country.

  • Creating distinctive value: Times Network wins Porter prize

    Creating distinctive value: Times Network wins Porter prize

    MUMBAI: Times Network was recently awarded one of the most coveted corporate awards, Porter Prize 2016, which aims to recognize strategic acumen of corporates in India. The Porter Prize Award in creating distinctive value category was received by Times Network MD and CEO M K Anand and head of international business Naveen Chandra in the august presence of the minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha at an event held in Delhi.

    The award honoured Times Network International business for their outstanding performance in the industry, ability to offer unique solutions to customers, effectively creating new market spaces, segments and providing solutions that redefine the market.

    Anand said, “With over 100 million English viewers, Times Network is the most powerful media platform to influence opinion makers in and about India. We realize that beyond nurturing a profitable business we are also in a unique position to speak to our audiences and effect positive change in the Social and Economic spheres through our powerful channels.”

    Porter Prize is organized in honour of the renowned philosopher, thinker, Harvard faculty member and the father of the modern strategic field, Michael E Porter. The central idea of the Porter Prize is to propel companies to compete on the basis of value creation, innovation and strategy and has a robust three-stage process of making an application, strategy audit and jury evaluation.

    Chandra added, “Times Network has reached over 80 countries on five continents in just under five years building distinctive value for the business. The Indian diaspora globally is a very potent audience and we have built many high impact engagement platforms for the diaspora.”

    The network that expanded its operations in UK last November, now delivers segmented and differentiated content to over 1.4 million viewers in UK. Internationally, the network is present across 83 countries in the world and has an aggressive expansion plan to start operations in France and Germany, in the near future. In India, the channel engages with over 100 million urban affluent viewers and its network channels enjoy an undisputed leadership in the country.

  • Times Now partners with Sky Media for ad sales in the UK

    Times Now partners with Sky Media for ad sales in the UK

    MUMBAI: In a move to strengthen its ad sales in the UK market, Times Now has signed a deal with Sky Media. The channel has been recently launched in the UK market and claims to have received good initial response to its programming.

    Sky Media, will be the channel’s exclusive ad sales partner for all mainstream sales in the region. The agency will be mandated to handle the airtime as well as sponsorship sales for the channel in the UK.

    The channel has also recently taken on board Tarun Sawhney as the country sales manager based in London to manage all the channel sales and marketing in UK and for all the channels in India for clients in the region. With the intent to grow its mainstream sales, the channel tested on Barb in February and has become barb rated since April.

    Times Network International business head Naveen Chandra said, “Times Now has had consistent ratings leadership in India and in other markets due to its product differentiation with high quality, hard-hitting journalism for the last ten years. We are happy to introduce this strong News product to the South Asian TV audiences in the UK, and build it with smart local marketing initiatives. In Sky Media sales, we believe we have the perfect sales partner for leveraging our product strengths.”

     “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to add TIMES NOW to our extensive portfolio of South Asian targeted channels; it adds another dimension to our offering for advertisers with great news content for a continually growing and important audience”, said Sky Media operations director Richard Hawking.

     

  • Times Now partners with Sky Media for ad sales in the UK

    Times Now partners with Sky Media for ad sales in the UK

    MUMBAI: In a move to strengthen its ad sales in the UK market, Times Now has signed a deal with Sky Media. The channel has been recently launched in the UK market and claims to have received good initial response to its programming.

    Sky Media, will be the channel’s exclusive ad sales partner for all mainstream sales in the region. The agency will be mandated to handle the airtime as well as sponsorship sales for the channel in the UK.

    The channel has also recently taken on board Tarun Sawhney as the country sales manager based in London to manage all the channel sales and marketing in UK and for all the channels in India for clients in the region. With the intent to grow its mainstream sales, the channel tested on Barb in February and has become barb rated since April.

    Times Network International business head Naveen Chandra said, “Times Now has had consistent ratings leadership in India and in other markets due to its product differentiation with high quality, hard-hitting journalism for the last ten years. We are happy to introduce this strong News product to the South Asian TV audiences in the UK, and build it with smart local marketing initiatives. In Sky Media sales, we believe we have the perfect sales partner for leveraging our product strengths.”

     “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to add TIMES NOW to our extensive portfolio of South Asian targeted channels; it adds another dimension to our offering for advertisers with great news content for a continually growing and important audience”, said Sky Media operations director Richard Hawking.

     

  • UAE businesses pledge USD 3.68 billion at Times Now’s UP Investment Summit

    UAE businesses pledge USD 3.68 billion at Times Now’s UP Investment Summit

    MUMBAI: Times Now’s UP Investment Summit held recently in Dubai drew overwhelming response from UAE businesses. 

    The move comes close as UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav government launched an ambitious programme to boost all-round development of the state by attracting NRI investments across the globe, especially from the Middle East. Five leading Indian-owned businesses have committed more than Rs25,090 crore (USD 3.68 billion) towards infrastructure and industrial development initiatives launched by Uttar Pradesh. 

    UAE-based companies have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the high-level delegation of UP state officials visiting the UAE on Thursday, pledging to invest in the state’s upcoming manufacturing, utilities and healthcare initiatives. The names of the investors will be announced by the UP government in the coming weeks.

    The high-powered delegation of UP officials was led by Alok Ranjan, Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government, Manoj Singh, Managing Director of the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd, Kanchan Verma, IAS Special Secretary (Infrastructure and Industries). The forum was supported by Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) and attended by high-profile business leaders from the UAE.

    The forum focused on promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation between UP and the Middle East with the state offering investment opportunities in major sectors, including manufacturing (especially food processing), infrastructure, energy, power and healthcare.

    Speaking on this occasion, Uttar Pradesh government chief secretary Alok Ranjan said, “The state offers enormous possibilities of enterprise and success to Middle East entrepreneurs. It is the biggest emerging market in India and the government is determined to continuously improve industry-conducive climate. By simplifying procedures and sprucing up the investment mechanisms across the states, the government is ensuring that investors are provided the best services and facilities from the project beginning to its implementation”.

    TIMES NOW head of International business Naveen Chandra said “The diaspora is highly potent, India today receives more foreign exchange from remittances than from FDI. The central government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative has to effectively drill down to ‘Make in Indian States’ in reality for any impact and for achieving the broader objective, given our federal structure. It is TIMES NOW’s constant endeavour to connect the opportunity in Indian states to the diaspora and to create high impact engagement platforms in various markets around the world. We are happy to partner and connect UP with potential investors in this forum.”

    Over the past few months, Uttar Pradesh has taken a slew of measures in improving overall infrastructure & logistical facilities, including launching mega road projects, such as the 1047-km long, 8-lane Ganga Expressway along the course of the river Ganga, joining far east with national capital, Yamuna Expressway, likely to be completed soon to provide fast access to Agra and other major industrial cities such as Ghaziabad, Meerut, Hathras and a network of expressways are in the offing. 

    Numerous developmental projects in power, metro-rails, transport, education, health and urban rejuvenation are at different stages of implementation and there are many more in pipeline, reconfirming the state’s commitment to commercial opportunities for stability and growth.

    Uttar Pradesh is being recognized across the globe as an important investment destination, thanks to concerted efforts between the Yadav government and private sector players. Earlier this year, the Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group announced that it would be investing Rs1000 crore (AED550 million) to set up a shopping mall, convention centre and five-star hotel in the state. Lulu’s initiative is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs once the project is completed.

    IBPC president Kulwant Singh said, “Smart partnerships are all about finding the right timing and momentum. Today is India’s time and our chance to invest. I believe that along with the opportunities in the region, there is also a perfect opportunity to invest back home in India, the first stop in the UAE’s ‘Look East’ policy. The UAE is keen to innovate and build a knowledge economy. Indian expertise could transform the next phase of development here, while India could gain from UAE investments for its Make in India campaign.”

    The session was moderated by Sunanda Jayaseelan, Senior Producer Features from a leading business news channel, and the show will be broadcast in over 80 countries, including the Middle East.