ITV

Tag: NDTV Group

  • NDTV MetroNation plans to launch in Chennai by October-end

    NDTV MetroNation plans to launch in Chennai by October-end

    NEW DELHI: After launching MetroNation in Delhi last September, NDTV Group plans to launch the city-specific channel in Chennai by October-end.

    The next launch will be in Mumbai by the end of the fiscal. Says MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla, “As far as entering more markets is concerned, MetroNation will be launched in Chennai first by the end of October. The channel will be launched in Mumbai by the end of this fiscal. The subsequent launches will depend on the needs of the market.”

    Lulla’s focus will be to expand the reach of the channel and tap advertisers. “I will not be changing the programmes of the channel. I will be working towards strengthening our relationship with advertisers. Then my job will be to expand the distribution to make sure that the channel is widely available. The thrust will also be on marketing the channel,” says Lulla.

    However, Lulla did not give out the investment plans. “It would be inappropriate to comment on the investments, as it would depend on the markets we enter,” he adds.

  • NDTV Group elevates Shyatto Raha to CEO of Emerging Markets BV

    MUMBAI: NDTV has appointed Shyatto Raha as the CEO of NDTV Group’s subsidiary company Emerging Markets BV. Heading the company’s business and operations, Raha will report to the NDTV board.

    Emerging Markets BV is responsible for the setting up of local news, current affairs executive and business channels targeting the local population, in the local language in emerging markets across the world.

    Shyatto was the channel head of NDTV 24×7 since its launch and has been the vice president for strategy and business development for the group. “A major in Economics from Delhi University, he recently completed the prestigious Advanced Management Program at The Harvard Business School where he was the youngest in the batch,” a NDTV release said. 

    Shyatto has been with NDTV for over 12 years as an essential part of NDTV’s strategic team and has helped develop new growth areas. He has spearheaded the launch of NDTV Arabia in the Middle East and the two Astro Awani channels in Indonesia and Malaysia.

  • Clearances to TV proposals after review of FDI rules

    MUMBAI: Applications for starting around ten news television channels have been referred to the Finance ministry for veracity of their claims about foreign investment.

    While sources in both Information and Broadcasting and Finance ministries insisted that such reference to the sister ministry was made every time a proposal came for any venture with a foreign component, it was clarified by the Finance ministry that the rules pertaining to foreign direct investment were being reviewed and the proposals would be cleared after this was completed.
    But Finance ministry sources told Indiantelevision.com that an announcement about the changed and simplified rules was expected shortly.

    I&B ministry sources told Indiantelevision.com that this will not mean any further delay in clearing various applications pending with it for licences to start new television channels.

    Finance ministry sources said the relevant files had been referred to the Foreign Institutions Unit (FIU) which would refer them to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) after examination.

    The examination by the Finance ministry becomes important in view of the overall cap of 26 per cent on foreign direct investment. The specific purpose would also be to examine the ownership pattern of the channels as the government regulations say that the ownership of a channel uplinking from within the country has to be Indian irrespective of the FDI investment.

    Proposals of 71 private satellite channels from 52 different companies awaiting permission as on April 30 to uplink from within the country were at different stages of scrutiny, which included clearances from other ministries.

    The Uplinking Guidelines issued in November 2005 prescribe two categories of channels: news and current affairs, or non-news and current affairs.

    Meanwhile, a total of 222 private satellite television channels have been permitted to uplink from India as on April 30 apart from six channels uplinked from abroad which have been permitted to downlink in India. In addition to this, 54 foreign TV channels have been provisionally permitted to downlink in India.

    Ministry sources said only 25 of the proposals are in the non-news category – some relating to music – while the balance are in the news category.

    The highest number of proposals – seven – is from three companies linked to the NDTV group. There are four proposals each from ZEE Telefilms, BAG Films group, and the TV 18 group, and three each from Malar Network, Maa TV Network, and STV Enterprises. Two proposals have come from the INX group. The rest of the proposals are from companies wanting to beam single channels. 

    One proposal for two channels from Raj TV Network has been pending since May 2005. While 23 proposals were sent in during 2006, the rest were all made this year.

  • NDTV Networks Plc, UK, seeks FIPB nod

    NDTV Networks Plc, UK, seeks FIPB nod

    MUMBAI: NDTV Group is setting up a company in the UK as part of its plans to launch a Hindi entertainment channel, sources close to the company say.

    The company, NDTV Networks Plc, UK, is expected to own a stake in the Indian company that will launch the channel. It is not yet clear whether NDTV Networks will wholly own the Indian company or a part of the stake.
    NDTV Networks has already made an application to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for approval, stating that the company’s activities would include “non news and current affairs channels.” More details are not available.

    NDTV Ltd. had earlier announced it would form NDTV Ventures to start a slew of TV channels, including a Hindi general entertainment channel. The non-news forays would be undertaken by NDTV Ventures and will have under it the entertainment and new media divisions, the company had said.

    NDTV Group will be raising money to support its entertainment channel, market sources say. The UK-based company will play a big role in lining up investments for NDTV’s expansion plans in the area of non news channels, they add. How this will be structured, though, remains unclear at this stage.

    When contacted, NDTV Ltd. director Narayan Rao declined to comment on the issue. “We will make an announcement of our plans soon,” he said. NDTV’s chief executive for growth and strategy Vikram Chandra also refused to talk on the subject.

    NDTV has roped in filmmaker Karan Johar for the Hindi general entertainment channel. His production house, Dharma Productions, will hold a small equity stake in the channel.