ITV

Tag: Navratna

  • Pehla ‘Navratna’ bouquet expected in March

    Pehla ‘Navratna’ bouquet expected in March

    MUMBAI: Dubai-based Arab Digital Distribution (ADD) is planning to launch its Pehla Navratna bouquet of nine South Indian channels in March.

    The Direct to Home (DTH) platform provider has already roped in Malayalam general entertainment channels Asianet and Kairali, Tamil GEC Jaya TV and South Indian music channel Southern Spice Music. Sources say Malayalam news channel Indiavision is on the verge of signing the deal.

    When contacted, Pehla didn’t confirm the March launch. “A final decision will be taken soon,” a spokesperson said.

    “The channels we have signed are already available in the Pehla bouquet. These channels will be clubbed together to form the Navratna bouquet,” the spokesperson added.

    By assembling together the bouquet of nine channels under the Pehla DTH service, targeted at audience in the Middle East region, ADD attempts to find new subscribers and block any DTH service provider from tapping this growing segment.

    The Pehla formula is suiting the South Indian channels. The Middle East has a large South Indian and Sri Lankan population whose entertainment needs these channels can service. Also, they can earn incremental revenues by joining the platform of the main DTH service provider in the region.

    Asianet will be available in both the existing and the new package, a company source confirmed. The Malayalam channel is paid a fixed rate irrespective of its subscriber base and has an annual contract with Pehla.

    SS Music, which has music content in all the four south Indian languages of Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada, has already signed up with Pehla. Tamil language general entertainment channel Jaya TV would also feature as part of the bouquet.

    Sun Network, however, is likely to stay out of Pehla. All the more reason for Pehla to align and bring together the Navratna bouquet. The Middle East region is fast becoming a cluttered market with just 50 per cent of the population under the addressable system. Other DTH players like Orbit and Showtime are competing with Pehla in this fragmented market.

  • Prasar Bharati chief urges DD channels to innovate

    Prasar Bharati chief urges DD channels to innovate

    MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati chief executive K.S. Sarma has asked the pubcaster’s regional channels to come up with innovative concepts. Speaking at the inauguration of DD Sahyadri’s third Navratna awards in Mumbai on 14 April, Sarma praised DD Mumbai’s initiative around the awards, urging other kendra’s to institute regional awards too. 

    DD’s Sahyadri Navaratna Awards recognise the efforts of Maharashtra-originating individuals in nine spheres, right from singing to business to dance etc.

    In his speech, Sarma appreciated the efforts of DD Sahyadri director Mukesh Sharma in conceiving and making the Navratna Awards a success. (DD Sahyadri and Indiantelevision.com had jointly worked on the first Sahyadri awards).

    “Mumbai Dordarshan has been unique in organising such an event. Other channels from the Prasar Bharati bouquet should also try their hand at doing something like this”, he said.

    One of the 25 regional channels of Prasar Bharati, DD Sahyadri is the only one with no free slot in its 18 hours per day schedule, he pointed out. 

    Sarma admitted that commercial pressures were increasingly impacting the pubcaster, but it was standing firm in its basic mandate of being a public service. 

    Said he:”Although Prasar Bharati is getting commercialised to survive, we will always have the public’s benefit at the back of our mind as the first priority. We will provide the advertisers subsidised rates for their ad space”.