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Tag: NDTV

  • earthTV inks deal with Mediascope for live global feeds; NDTV to telecast in India

    MUMBAI: German media group, earth television network (earthTV) has entered into a representational agreement with Indian media house headquartered in Mumbai, Mediascope to develop earthTV’s business within India.

    The shared goal is to develop a network of earthTV’s cameras across India, and use this network to generate Live TV programming that will air earthTV’s partner broadcasters around the world, live, daily, states an official announcement.

    In India, earthTV’s programming will be is broadcast live every day on news network, NDTV.

    Mediascope – Publicitas CMD Marzban Patel said, “We are truly delighted at having won the contract to represent earthTV in India. earthTV is a unique and innovative program that airs on a constantly expanding list of leading news channels across the world. India will now enjoy the benefit of its massive reach.”

    earthTV president Thomas Hohenacker said, “We had been considering our India strategy for some time now, and the partnership with Mediascope really is an ideal fit. The tie-up gives us the opportunity to partner with the market leader to develop earthTV’s presence across India, to develop a network of cameras across India, and to broadcast the best of India to the rest of the world, live, every day.”

    Coinciding with this announcement, earthTV has set up its first camera in India, located at Udaipur, the City of Lakes. Live video from Udaipur is now broadcasting around the world on more than 40 TV networks daily. It is also available at www.earthTV.com.

  • NDTV launches scholar hunt

    MUMBAI: NDTV has tied up with broadband and telephone services company Airtel to present a reality contest named ‘Airtel Scholar Hunt Destination UK’.

    The show scheduled to go on air from 14 July 2007, proposes to select the best from the Indian student community in the country and offer them five scholarships to British universities in subjects as diverse as Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Management, Computing Science, Biomedical Science and Engineering. ‘Airtel Scholar Hunt Destination UK’ specifically targets students who will complete their Senior Secondary (Class XII) education this April.

    Hosted by Arun Thapar, the show is structured around a multi-stage contest that places a high premium on academic excellence. As it progresses, the contest becomes more subject specific and intellectually grueling to ensure that the winners have a sound knowledge base and aptitude for the chosen subjects.

    On the launch of this innovative scholar hunt reality show to be produced by NDTV, NDTV Media CEO Raj Nayak said, “Reality shows have been a huge success in the past and we have been toying with the idea for over a year. But it was important for us to bring in a reality show that fits in with the profile and image of the channel and that’s how we narrowed down on education.

    He further added that parents may have reservations on their children participating in a glamour related talent hunt but no parent will ever have an objection for their children getting an opportunity for good education. “We believe this program will give an opportunity for students across the country not only to be a part of a reality show but also to fulfill their dream of studying abroad.”

    Adding to this, NDTV 24X7 Managing Editor Sonia Singh, said, “It is NDTV’s constant endeavour to present novel programmes that excite our viewers and we are targeting the next gen in this reality show. This scholar hunt offers students a chance to excel in a fair competition. Not only will this show thrill the younger generation, it will also challenge their minds and offer them a promising future.”

    Based on their performance, the winners will bag scholarships to renowned universities like Cardiff University, Leeds University, Middlesex University, Sheffield University and Warwick University for either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree. In addition to sponsoring the scholarships and stipend for living expenses, the participating British Universities will assist in developing the specifics of the quiz and task rounds, so that the contest questions reflect their exacting admission requirements.

  • Sudhir Chaudhary joins as channel head Janmat

    MUMBAI: Janmat has roped in senior media personality Sudhir Chaudhary as the Head of the channel to execute their massive expansion plans. He will be reporting directly to the group’s Vice Chairman and MD, Markand Adhikari.

    After the maiden IPO of Broadcast Initiatives Limited, the company running Janmat, the management has huge plans to revamp their news and views channel.The company has claimed that it expects to raise about 60 crore rupees in revenue through the IPO.

    Sudhir Chaudhary has been in the TV news industry for over 14 years and has worked at various Hindi channels like Zee News, Sahara Samay National and India TV where he joined as an executive editor.

    Confirming this appointment, Adhikari said, “Sudhir will be responsible for the overall functioning of the channel and his task will be to implement the complete revamp and expansion strategy of the channel.

    Janmat will stick to its unique positioning of news and views channel, which provides platform to every citizen to express their voice. However after our maiden IPO we will be implementing the state of the art studio and technology, which will further sharpen the channel’s niche.

    The company has plans to establish its bureaus all over the country through an extensive network of live broadcasting systems and OB Vans. Sticking to its niche will provide a platform to every Indian to express their voice.”

    Chaudhary said, “Adhikari Brothers, since the inception of Television Industry, have always understood the market gap and have established their niche in the market. I am extremely delighted to join Janmat and consider this to be a great professional assignment to turn around the channel and to make it a futuristic broadcasting platform. In another two to three months times viewers will see Janmat in a new avatar”.

    Furthermore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadcast Initiatives, Sri Adhikari Brothers Media (SABML) has just launched (as of 5 March) Marathi language channel Mi Marathi. SABML has entered into an exclusive ad-sales representation Agreement with NDTV Media for the sale of airtime on Mi Marathi.

  • Shweta Nanda nee Bachchan to host NDTV Profit show

    Shweta Nanda nee Bachchan to host NDTV Profit show

    MUMBAI: It’s the season of the Bachchan’s and here’s adding another one to the fray.
    NDTV Profit announced a new show called ‘NextGEN’ to be hosted by Shweta Nanda, daughter of Amitabh Bachchan, who by her own admission was happy “playing a mother until NDTV Profit came up with this interesting concept”.
    Starting Tuesday 8:30 pm NextGen, an interview based show will air as part of a 12 episode series. The interview series will focus on guests from diverse fields like art, literature, sports, films, fashion and business.
    Speaking to the media on the need for a celebrity based interview show on a business channel NDTV Media CEO Raj Nayak said, “This is a show about Gen X’s aspiration, philosophy, ambitions and a vision to success. We, at NDTV, think that Shweta understands this generation best since she is a part of it and will be more comfortable talking to the guests and vice versa.The idea is to also provide programming beyond business and corporate world.”
    The channel plans to air 12 episodes before it takes a break on the show. “Depending on the audience response we will extend it. NextGen on NDTV Profit is an effort to present diverse views of young Indians across several fields and not just restricting it to the world of business”, said NDTV Profit executive editor Shivnath Thukral.
    NextGen is sponsored by Life Insurance Corporation of India. Says LIC head of corporate communications Poonam Bodra, “Although we had no specific person in mind as an anchor for the show, Shweta fits the bill perfectly. LIC wanted to be associated with a show that would focus on the youth and their thought processes.” Although she declined to comment further on the issue, she did acknowledge that this was part of the initiative to shift the image of LIC from the older generation to being more youth oriented.
    Asked if she would ever consider having brother Abhishek and his fiancé Aishwarya Rai on the show as they are both role models for the youth, Shweta said, “They are family so bringing them on the show as guests would be a conflict of interest.”

  • NDTV exclusive with Rahul Dravid

    NEW DELHI: In a candid interview with NDTV 24X7, Rahul Dravid, captain of the Indian cricket team, speaks to Dr Prannoy Roy about Saurav Ganguly’s grand come-back and how, in his opinion, Ganguly was the ‘best captain’ for the Indian cricket team. He also talks about his best World Cup team – Australia – and a lot more.

    Watch Rahul Dravid speak to Dr Prannoy Roy in a free-wheeling conversation on ‘India Questions’, on Sunday, March 11 , 2007, at 7.00 pm.

    Asked who he thinks has been the best captain of the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid maintained, “Yes, he (Saurav Ganguly) was, if you look at the numbers that were produced during the past five years and the games we played during his captaincy. In that sense he was the best captain and we had the best team….

    “We are happy that he’s come back and that he is playing well…At the end of the day the team wants players who are playing well and performing well,” he adds.

    When asked what his contribution to Sourav’s come-back has been, Dravid was categoric, “The credit for going through it and coming out of it goes to him…he’s worked hard…he’s leaner, meaner and fitter…he’s playing well. He’s been fielding well…and we hope he can repeat that performance in the World Cup…”

    On Australia, Rahul Dravid says, “I think there will be eight teams that will be looking to be in that final…I think Australia will start as favourites but not by much…that gap is closing….It’s going to be a tough World Cup…”

    Dravid is confident that India will win the World Cup this time and that India’s performance in the recent matches bears ample testimony to this fact.

  • NDTV secures Rs 5.85 billion FIPB clearance for entertainment, lifestyle channels

    NDTV secures Rs 5.85 billion FIPB clearance for entertainment, lifestyle channels

    NEW DELHI: News major NDTV’s plans to enter the broadcast entertainment arena has just moved up a gear. The finance ministry has approved foreign investment of Rs 5.85 billion by NDTV Networks UK in wholly owned subsidiary companies – NDTV Imagine and NDTV Lifestyle.

    The approvals for foreign direct investment in the two companies are for the upcoming launch of NDTV’s Hindi general entertainment and lifestyle channels.
    It was Indiantelevision.com that reported that NDTV Group had floated Networks Plc, UK, which would play a big role in bringing in investments for the entertainment and other non news channels.

    The Rs 5.85 billion funding that NDTV has secured corroborates an earlier media report that had said that $106 million would be invested into NDTV Imagine while $25.23 million would be pumped into NDTV Lifestyle, a channel dedicated to travel, food, fashion, shopping and health and wellness.

    The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) cleared NDTV’s FDI application in its meeting held on 14 February.

    NDTV Networks will be driving the group’s new business initiatives worldwide comprising entertainment, lifestyle, convergence, outsourcing, new channels set up in different countries and software/technology development.

  • Maruti in $ 1 million sponsorship deal for cricket World Cup website

    Maruti in $ 1 million sponsorship deal for cricket World Cup website

    MUMBAI: ICC internet partner Indya.com kicked off its campaign for the globe’s biggest cricketing carnival with the official launch today of its World Cup dedicated website cricketworldcup.com.

    The launch coincided with the confirmation that car major Maruti had come on board the site as presenting sponsor for cricket’s headline event. In what is being termed as the biggest online advertising deal negotiated in India in recent times, Maruti has committed somewhere in the region of $ 1 million (Rs 450 million) for the privilege of owning “most of the real estate” on the site, sources close to the developments say.

    Ajay Vidyasagar, Star India executive vice-president content and communications, while refusing to offer any comment on the size of the deal, said: “Maruti has made a significant investment in partnering with us and this is the only engagement we are announcing for the present.”

    “Maruti has always been at the cutting edge of technology and have always been open to explore and experiment with new ideas,” NDTV Media CEO Raj Nayak, whose company has been given the mandate to sell advertising for Indya.com for the World Cup, said. “I think this is a testimony to the power of the worldwide web,” Nayak added.

    It may be recalled that earlier, the sponsorship packages on offer involved one presenting sponsor and four associate sponsors. This has all changed because the size of the deal Indya has negotiated with Maruti. There will now be far less inventory available for other potential sponsors than had been originally envisaged, Vidyasagar explained.

    Speaking about cricketworldcup.com, Vidyasagar said, “We are committed to provide the most comprehensive and definitive website of the game during the tournament and assure our users an online experience that they will find unparalleled.

  • NDTV announces three CEO appointments

    NDTV announces three CEO appointments

    MUMBAI: NDTV announced the appointment of three leaders to head the group’s new growth ventures.

    Vikram Chandra has been appointed as the CEO and managing director of NDTV Networks PLC, a 100% subsidiary incorporated in United Kingdom. Smeeta Chakrabarti will serve as the CEO of NDTV Lifestyle Ltd and Rahul Deshpande will take on the mandate of CEO of NDTV Labs ltd, the software and technology company.

    In his role as CEO of NDTV Networks, Chandra will be responsible for the group’s new business initiatives worldwide comprising entertainment, lifestyle, convergence, outsourcing, new channels set up in different countries and software/technology development. Chandra will report to the CEO of the NDTV Group KVL Narayan Rao and to the Board of Directors of NDTV Networks.

    Chandra has been leading the company’s growth initiatives for the past one year and has played a significant role in incubating several of these businesses. He has served as CEO of ndtv.com, the company’s internet and mobile content operations and as Managing Editor of NDTV Profit, the business news channel.Chandra will continue as an anchor and senior journalist on NDTV Profit.

    The group also announced the CEO of NDTV Lifestyle Ltd Smeeta Chakrabarti. NDTV Lifestyle will be responsible for launching new channels under the lifestyle genre.

    Smeeta has been with NDTV since its incorporation 18 years ago and will continue to carry out her group level responsibilities as head of operations for the NDTV Group.

    Rahul Deshpande has been appointed the CEO of NDTV Labs ltd. NDTV Labs will develop market and sell software and technology products and solutions created by in-house specialists that Deshpande will lead.

    Deshpande was earlier CTO of NDTV and has been heading engineering and IT for over 12 years.

    The group had announced the appointed of NDTV Group CEO KVL Narayan Rao earlier in the month.

  • Narayan Rao elevated to NDTV Group CEO

    Narayan Rao elevated to NDTV Group CEO

    MUMBAI: NDTV Limited has elevated its executive director KVL Narayan Rao to group CEO. In his new role, which is effective immediately, Rao will oversee the businesses of the NDTV Group in India and abroad.

    Rao will be responsible for ensuring that the business aspirations of the group are met and that NDTV becomes a global Indian media brand, recognised all over the world for its ethics, high standards and achievements, a company release says.

    Rao has been with NDTV since 1995 and has played a key role in the transition and growth of NDTV from a production house to a broadcaster. In his earlier role as director, he was responsible for human resources, administration and operations of the company.

    The NDTV Group is expanding both its news and non-news business, which will be overseen now by Rao. He will oversee the implementation of a common code of conduct across the group companies and ensure that the group adheres to the highest standards of corporate governance.

    Said NDTV Ltd chairman Prannoy Roy, “With Narayan’s rich experience in media broadcast and his leadership experience, he is the best person to steer NDTV in its rapid growth phase. His strong execution skills, his understanding of the organisation’s culture and his personal integrity make him an obvious choice.”

    “It’s a huge privilege and a great honour and I am delighted to get this opportunity to play a role in NDTV’s future,” Rao said.

    Rao started his career as a journalist with the Indian Express. Thereafter, he joined the Indian Revenue Service and served in different roles, including deputy commissioner of income tax and deputy secretary in the ministry of defence. Rao has a Masters degree in English Literature. He has also graduated from the National Academy of Direct Taxes and has a management diploma in public finance from IIAP/ENA, Paris. He represents NDTV on several international bodies.

  • Broadcast Initiatives fixes IPO price band at Rs 100-120, issue opens on 9 February

    Broadcast Initiatives fixes IPO price band at Rs 100-120, issue opens on 9 February

    MUMBAI: Broadcast Initiatives Limited, which holds Hindi news and views channel Janmat, has set the price band of its initial public offering (IPO) between Rs 100 and Rs 120 per share. to raise funds in the range of Rs 855 to Rs 1,026 million for expansion.

    The company will be raising Rs 1.02 billion at the top end of the price band. The proceeds of the issue will be used for the purchase of land and construction of studio, purchase of production, post production and broadcasting equipments and prepayment of loans.

    The issue will open on 9 February and close on 14 February. The company is offering 8.55 million equity shares of Rs 10 each which includes employee reservation of 1,00,000 equity shares at a premium.

    The net issue to the public will constitute 44.27 per cent of the fully diluted post issue paid-up capital of the Company. The promoters will continue to own 55.73 per cent of the equity shares on a fully diluted basis.

    Allianz Securities Ltd. is the book running lead manager (BRLM). Allianz Securities Limited, Enam Securities Private Limited and Almondz Capital Markets Private Limited are the syndicate members to the issue. The shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and the NSE.

    Janmat was commercially launched on 30 April 2006. A wholly owned subsidiary of Broadcast Initiatives Ltd., Sri Adhikari Brothers Media Limited (SABML) is in the process of launching a Marathi language channel, Mi Marathi. SABML has entered into an exclusive ad sales representation agreement with NDTV Media Limited for the sale of airtime on Mi Marathi channel.