ITV

Tag: NDTV

  • Roys buy back 7.7% NDTV stake from GA Global Investments for Rs 1.9 billion

    MUMBAI: New Delhi Television Ltd’s founder-promoters Dr Prannoy and Radhika Roy have paid around Rs 1.92 billion to buy 7.73 per cent stake from GA (General Atlantic) Global Investments, increasing their stake in the news media major to 61 per cent.

    Meanwhile, 7.67 per cent of NDTV shares were pledged with Indiabulls Financial Services. “It seems NDTV promoters have pledged their shares while also making a 7.73 per cent (4.8 million equity shares) market purchase from GA Global Investments,” says a source.

    The foreign holding in NDTV has dropped to around three per cent after the purchase of GA Global Investments by the promoters. The government regulation stipulates that news channels uplinking from India can have a maximum of 26 per cent foreign holding.

    “The promoters wanted to increase their stake as it would provide them some space to dilute when they want to. After doling out ESOPs, the promoter holding would have fallen from 53.2 to 51 per cent. The government regulation asks promoters to hold at least 51 per cent in the news venture,” says the source.

    The purchase also allows foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and NRIs to acquire that many shares more in NDTV till the ceiling of 26 per cent is reached.

    The promoters had announced in late 2005 their intent to transfer 15 per cent of their stake to daughter Tara Roy who is a non-resident Indian. But the proposal has still not received regulatory approval.

    “If the proposal to gift 15 per cent still stands, it will limit NDTV’s opportunity to get in a foreign strategic investor. But if that is dropped, then the equations change,” says an analyst with a global broking firm.

    The analyst also points out that NDTV’s general and business news channels are held in the same company. “In case of TV18 Group, it is housed in two separate entities with Global Broadcast News (GBN) holding the general news space,” he adds.

    Following the market purchase, the promoters of NDTV have made an open offer to acquire 20 per cent equity in the company at a price of Rs 438.98 per share. “This is part of the Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India) regulation for promoters who increase their stake by over 5 per cent in a financial year. The pricing fixed by the promoters is not aggressive for shareholders to offload. But if they manage to mop up more shares at that price, it will be good,” says the analyst.

    NDTV shares closed on Monday at Rs 462.60 on the BSE, up 0.6 per cent from the previous close.

  • NDTV to be available in Singapore on SingTel’s mio TV platform

    MUMBAI: NDTV will make its entry into Singapore on the SingTel’s mio TV platform. The channels that are to be available for the Singapore audience from 1 November include NDTV 24X7 and NDTV Profit.

    “The launch of our channels in Singapore is another milestone in our objective to reach out beyond the domestic market to Indian expatriates and to all those who have a deeper commercial and cultural interest in the news and stories from the sub continent. SingTel mio TV’s innovative approach to pay TV will allow subscribers simple and inexpensive access to our channels”, said NDTV head of distribution and affiliate sales Rahul Sood.

    Director of mio TV and Content Low Ka Hoe said, “SingTel mio TV is delighted to partner NDTV who is the leading broadcaster in India. We are sure the Indian community would be very excited about the launch of NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit that continuously provide compelling and innovative programming that is relevant to their interests.”

    Meanwhile, NDTV has launched NDTV Arabia in Middle East after conducting a soft launch in September. The 24-hour news and infotainment channel will be a free-to-air channel available on Nile Sat. The English channel will have a mixed content of business, current affairs and lifestyle.

  • NDTV Q2 loss at Rs 240.8 million

    MUMBAI: NDTV has posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 240.8 million for the second quarter ended 30 September 2007. On a standalone basis, the company’s net loss stands at Rs 39.5 million.

    During the period the company has registered a total income of Rs 774.9 million on a consolidated basis, up 42 per cent as compared to Rs 545.2 million in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

    NDTV’s standalone revenue in the second quarter of 2007, has raised to Rs 679.1 million, a hike of 46 per cent year-on-year as compared to Rs 465.6 million in the corresponding quarter last year.

    In the second quarter of this fiscal, NDTV launched four channels in India and abroad which includes NDTV Good Times, NDTV MetroNation (Delhi), NDTV Arabia and Astro Awani Malaysia in Malaysia.

  • NDTV launches NDTV Arabia in ME and North Africa

    MUMBAI: NDTV has launched NDTV Arabia in the Middle East and North Africa region. The 24-hour news and infotainment channel will be free-to-air channel available on Nile Sat.

    However an official press release states that the official launch will be around the end of October, after the channel’s soft launch today.

    The English channel will have a mixed content of business, current affairs and lifestyle. Subsequently the channel is going to have local news content produced from its bureau in Dubai, the release added.

    NDTV Ltd. chairman Prannoy Roy said, “We are proud to announce the launch of NDTV Arabia, the first wholly owned region specific channel from the bouquet of NDTV. This launch is in line with our plans to initiate international expansion beyond our current core market and reach new target audiences. The aim is to give more and more people access to credible quality news and information from India and South Asia. Our next step for the region will be to launch further channels targeting the local Diaspora.”

    NDTV Group CEO KVL Narayan Rao said, “NDTV Arabia is NDTV’s first venture into the Middle East and Africa as a customised channel. The channel aims to cater to growing interest in Indian current affairs and economy among a large population of Indian and South Asian origin in the Middle East and Africa.”

  • NDTV, Astro launch Astro Awani in Malaysia

    MUMBAI: NDTV and Astro have launched a 24-hour news and information channel, Astro Awani, in Malaysia on 6 September. This follows the launch last year in Indonesia of a 24-hour news, infotainment and lifestyle channel.

    With the tagline ‘Our Gateway to The World,’ Astro Awani is the first 24-hour news and information channel in Malaysia.

    Presented in the national language, Astro Awani will have a mixed content of current international news, events and issues which are relevant to the local viewers.

    Astro Awani is one of the four channels that NDTV is going to launch in September. The package includes NDTV lifestyle channel Good Times, Astro Awani, a channel for the Middle East and Metronation.

    NDTV Group CEO KVL Narayan Rao said, “NDTV’s association with Astro has had a great start last year, with the success of Astro Awani in Indonesia. Now, we are delighted to come together again and provide viewers in Malaysia with a comprehensive look at news and topical issues. The channel is a tribute to NDTV’s long standing commitment to delivering in-depth news and information-based programming.”

    Astro TV CEO Rohana Rozhan said, “We observed that our customers want higher quality content in a form that is international news presented from a local perspective. To fulfil this demand, we are proud to introduce Astro Awani. It will feature global news, events and issues from a Malaysian perspective, and will be presented in the national language.”

  • NDTV to be available on Sri Lanka’s DTH platform

    MUMBAI: NDTV 24X7 has entered into a distribution deal with Dialog TV, a direct-to-home (DTH) service provider in Sri Lanka. It is the only Indian news channel to be available on the Sri Lankan DTH platform.

    With this tie-up, NDTV’s global presence now extends to regions across the world which includes UK, US, Canada, across the Middle East, South Africa, Australia-New Zealand and neighbouring South Asian countries.

    NDTV’s vice president dstribution and affiliate sales Rahul Sood said, “We’re confident that 24×7 will be an important source of information and this partnership is in line with our efforts to reach out to our South Asian viewers.”

    “This agreement with NDTV underscores our continued commitment to add the very best to Dialog TV’s growing portfolio of channels. Our mandate is to deliver the most comprehensive range of news, knowledge and entertainment-based programming, and with the addition of NDTV to our sterling line up of news channels, we guarantee that our customers will receive up-to-the-minute and relevant news from our home region,” said Dialog Telekom general manager sales and marketing Nushad Perera.

    Dialog Television (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of Dialog Telekom PLC, operates Dialog Satellite TV, supporting a broad array of over 40 international channels including BBC, HBO, Cinemax, AXN, ESPN, Ten Sports, Discovery Channel, MTV (Music Television) and Cartoon Network, in addition to other Sri Lankan television channels.

  • TV18 Group & NDTV win top honours at Indian News Television Awards; Prannoy Roy gets Lifetime Achievement

    NEW DELHI: It was a night of nights for the TV18 Group of news channels for having pocketed 16 awards at the first Indian News Television Awards hosted by Indiantelevision.com. The NDTV Group followed closely behind with a total tally of 14 awards.

    Dr. Prannoy Roy, who has truly written television history in India on his own terms, received a standing ovation as he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the medium.

    Another person who had also ventured out on his own to tread new paths – Rajdeep Sardesai – received the Newsmaker of the Year Award at the gala function.

    Prasar Bharati chief executive officer B S Lalli was given an award for having pioneered the introduction of television on mobile phones in the country. BBC‘s Nick Gowing was given a Special Award in recognition of his work in international news reporting and coverage.

    While CNN-IBN received seven awards, CNBC-TV18 got four, CNBC Awaaz received three. From the NDTV Group, NDTV 24×7 received four metals, NDTV India got nine and NDTV Profit bagged one. Meanwhile, Star News pocketed five and Times Now four awards, Aaj Tak bagged two and IBN7 and Zee News received one each. IBNLive took home the award for best news channel website.

    The well-known MTV duo Cyrus Brocha and Cyrus Sahukar had the audience in splits with their inimitable style taking digs at all channels and styles of presentation. There were also short humorous clips that were showcased on the way news channels present investigative stories, weather reports, and entertainment news.

    The awards were given away by Indiantelevision.com chief executive officer and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari and general manager Anoop Wanwari, editorial director Thomas Abraham, member of Parliament Rajiv Shukla and Bag Films head Anuradha Prasad, B S Lalli, cricket commentator Charu Sharma, Phil and Diana from Al Jazeera channel, Madison chairman Sam Balsara, television actors Rajiv Paul and Pawan Shankar and entrepreneurs Durgam Arora, Balram Mahendra and Monica Burman.

    The awards function which went late into the night was a culmination of a day-long Indian News Television Summit which commenced in the morning with a keynote address by Information and Broadcasting ministry secretary Asha Swarup. The summit was endorsed by the ministry. The morning session was followed by a session on content and another on generating revenues, in which several senior persons from different channels participated.

    Below is a detailed list of the winners:
     

     

    Sr.No Category
    Winner
        Nominee Programme Channel
    1 Best TV News Reporter – Hindi Upendra Rai
    –
    		 Star News
    2 Best TV News Reporter – English Shaili Chopra Power Lunch, Profit At Night, Business Primetime NDTV Profit
    3 Best TV News Anchor – Hindi Vinod Dua
    –
    		 NDTV India
    4 Best TV News Anchor – English Barkha Dutt We the people & Special NDTV 24×7
    5 Best Promo Campaign By a News Channel Match Ke Mujrim
    –
    		 Star News
    6 Best Promo for any News show Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri Promo Star News
    7 Best Promo for a News Channel CNBC AWAAZ Awaaz baby Film Promo – India Speaks Business CNBC AWAAZ
    8 Best Sports News Presenter – Hindi Darain Shahidi
    –
    		 IBN 7
    9 Best Sports News Presenter – English Meha Bharadwaj Master Selector CNN-IBN
    10 Best Sports Reporting by a channel – Hindi Wah ! Cricket Wah ! Cricket Star News
    11 Best Sports Reporting by a channel – English Rudraneil Sengupta – Fifa world cup 06 Fifa world cup 06 CNN-IBN
    12 Best Sports News Show – Hindi Jeeto India Jeeto Jeeto India Jeeto NDTV India
    13 Best Sports News Show – English The Game The Game Times Now
    14 Best Auto Show-Hindi Top Speed Top Speed Star News
    15 Best Auto Show – English Auto Show Auto Show CNBC-TV18
    16 Best Business News Show – Hindi Dhan Daulat Dhan Daulat Aaj Tak
    17 Best Business News Show – English Axe The Tax Axe The Tax(Citizen Journalist Special) CNN-IBN
    18 Best Business Talk Show – Hindi Hum Honge Kamayaab Hum Honge Kamayaab CNBC AWAAZ
    19 Best Business Talk Show – English Young Turks Young Turks CNBC-TV18
    20 Best Business News Anchor – Hindi Pranjal Sharma Dhan Daulat Aaj Tak
    21 Best Business News Anchor – English Udayan Mukherjee
    –
    		 CNBC-TV18
    22 Best Investigative Reporting- Hindi Khabro Ki Khabar Khabro Ki Khabar NDTV India
    23 Best Investigative Reporting- English I am M K Subba I am M K Subba CNN-IBN
    24 Best Daily Newscast- Hindi Badi Khabar Badi Khabar Zee News
    25 Best Daily Newscast- English India At 9 India At 9 CNN-IBN
    26 Best News Documentary Programme-Limited episodes-Hindi Special Report Special Report NDTV India
    27 Best News Documentary Programme-Limited episodes-English Missing In Action Missing In Action CNN-IBN
    28 Best Current Affairs Show (Home & International)- Hindi Khabron Ki Khabar Khabron Ki Khabar NDTV India
    29 Best Current Affairs Show (Home & International)- English Nandigram : The Land Bleeds Nandigram : The Land Bleeds NDTV 24×7
    30 Best Crime Show- Hindi Pardafash Pardafash CNBC AWAAZ
    31 Best Crime Show- English Action City Action City Times Now
    32 Talk Show on a News Channel- Hindi Hum Log Hum Log NDTV India
    33 Talk Show on a News Channel- English We The People – Homosexuality Spl We The People – Homosexuality Spl NDTV 24×7
    34 Best Lifestyle & Fashion News Show- English High Life High Life Times Now
    35 Best Lifestyle & Fashion News Show- Hindi Raat Baaki Raat Baaki NDTV India
    36 Best Entertainment News Show-English India Questions Amitabh Bachchan India Questions Amitabh Bachchan NDTV 24×7
    37 Best Entertainment News Show-Hindi Jai Jawan With Preity Zinta Jai Jawan With Preity Zinta NDTV India
    38 Lifetime Dr Prannoy Roy
    –
    –
    39 Newsmaker Rajdeep Sardesai
    –
    –
    40 Best English News channe; CNN-IBN
    –
    –
    41 Best Hindi News Channel NDTV India
    –
    –
    42 Best Business News Channel CNBC-TV18
    –
    –
    43 Best news channel Website IBNLive
    –
    –
    44 Special Commendation Prasar Bharati for its pioneering initiative in mobile TV broadcast
    –
    –
    45 TRAILBLAZER (English) Times Now
    –
    –
    46 TRAILBLAZER (hindi) Aaj Tak
    –
    –
    47 Special award NIK GOWING -BBC MAIN PRESENTER – in recognition of his work in International news Reportage and Coverage
    –
    –

     

  • NDTV net loss Rs 21.2 million in Q1

    MUMBAI: NDTV posted a net loss of Rs 21.2 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2007, as compared to a loss of Rs 105.4 million during the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

    On a consolidated basis, the net loss stood at Rs 149.2 million for the first quarter of FY08, compared with a consolidated net loss of Rs 82.4 million during the corresponding period last year.

    During the period, the company’s consolidated total income was at Rs 736.9 million. Consolidated costs include expenditure on roll out of new businesses including entertainment and lifestyle channels.

    A statement by the channel said its first Lifestyle channel was due to be launched in the next few weeks, and NDTV Convergence had developed new high revenue initiatives. With the receipt of $120 million dollars in funding, NDTV Networks had achieved funding for present business plans.

    It also claimed that while costs are stabilized, NDTV is the only news channel not to become tabloid and to retain credibility and highest standards and advertisers were responding positively to this exclusive positioning by NDTV. NDTV Profit continued to enjoy the highest viewership among business channels, the statement said.

  • NDTV inks distribution deal with BT for UK, US

    MUMBAI: British Telecom’s (BT) media and broadcast division has inked an agreement with news broadcaster NDTV to be its global network supplier. This will enable the distribution of NTDV to the pay TV platforms BSkyB and DirecTV in the UK and US respectively. This is part of NDTV’s global growth strategy. BT will carry the live NDTV news bulletins to multiple platforms on its state of art network specially rolled out for television and media companies.

    BT GM, client management Asia Pacific and EMEA Deepakjit Singh Chatrath said, “We are indeed excited about fuelling a certain part of NDTV’s global growth plans. This is indeed an excellent opportunity for BT to showcase its network especially in terms of resiliency, security and a round the clock global service. We are confident of building this relationship as a benchmark for today’s broadcast industry.”

    BT presently down links the signal at UK from the PAS 10 satellite, and then carries it over its Media – IP network to BskyB’s platform in UK. This also includes bringing the signal to the BT Tower and making it fit for the U.S. viewer and then transporting the signal to the DirecTV platform in Los Angeles for it to be broadcasted over the DirecTV’s US platform. BT also takes care of repurposing the formats and other services for the US market.

    BT already has implemented the carriage of signal to BskyB platform and to DirecTV is planned for launch by end of July.

    NDTV CTO Rahul Deshpande said, “For today’s broadcasters the big business goal is globalisation. We have chosen BT as it offers a suite of services such as world class security, end to end network monitoring and water-tight service agreements that have been built into BT’s IP network”.

    BT’s Media & Broadcast Media-IP network is the only IP network which can connect the customer to multiple platforms across many countries without getting out of the network.

  • TV Today scrip soars on Reliance Capital offer

    MUMBAI: With TV Today Network shares shooting up, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Capital may find it difficult to attract investors for an open offer as it bids to increase stake in the news broadcasting company.

    The scrip jumped 5 per cent today to close at Rs 147.15 on the BSE, higher than the offer price for 20 per cent stake at Rs 130.50 per share. Reliance Capital, in fact, had set the price seven per cent below TV Today’s Tuesday market closing at Rs 140.2.

    Though the offer would open later from 6-to-25 June, analysts expect the price of TV Today to stay firm. Investors may want to sell now at a higher price or hold on with the hope that the scrip would climb as the offer date opens.

    “The price at Rs 130.50 is seen as too low to attract investors. It is not an aggressive bid and needs to be revised for having any serious selling interest from existing shareholders,” says an analyst at a broking firm.

    Reliance already has 11.93 per cent in TV Today after a recent purchase in the open market. The interest to hike up stake, analysts say, is partly due to the suppressed scrip price of TV Today which runs a clutch of news channels including the Hindi market leader Aaj Tak.

    Reliance would have to pay Rs 1.5 billion for the 20 per cent offer. For a similar stake in rival news broadcasters like NDTV and Global Broadcast News (CNN-IBN), the financial services firm controlled by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group would have had to cough out more.

    Analysts dismiss the possibility of a takeover with the promoters of TV Today controlling 55.69 per cent stake in the company. “Reliance Capital is, perhaps, sending signals that they are interested in the TV company in some form. It could be as financial investors. But if they sense an opportunity, they may move in,” analysts say.

    In an official statement, Reliance Capital has clarified its position. “We have strong confidence in the future prospects and growth potential of TV Today, and wish to increase our stake beyond the threshold of 15 per cent specified under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) takeover regulations. For meeting the procedural requirements, we are making an open offer to facilitate the increase in shareholding beyond 15 per cent. This will not result in any change in the management and / or control of TV Today.”

    Reliance Capital has equity in several media and entertainment companies including TV18, NDTV and GBN. It acquired a majority stake in Adlabs Films and Synergy Communications and has expressed interest to grow in this sector.