ITV

Tag: News18 India

  • News18 exposes ‘Namak Haraam’ Pakistani artistes

    News18 exposes ‘Namak Haraam’ Pakistani artistes

    MUMBAI: News18 India has carried out an exposé that revealed top Pakistani film actors and singers in India are involved in large-scale black money transactions. The channel, under its sting operation Namak Haraam, exposed top Pakistani personalities such as Fawad Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shafaqat Amanat Ali, Mawara Hocane and Imran Abbas.

    In line with its motto of ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’, News18 India conducted the sting operation over a fortnight in Mumbai and Delhi. The channel’s undercover reporters caught on camera the agents of the Pakistani artistes demanding a majority of their fee in black money. The fee was for appearance in wedding ceremonies. While a few demanded a part of the fee in cash, others wanted it transferred to their bank accounts in Australia or Dubai. The formal contract reflected a paltry sum as compared to the amount agreed upon.

    Renowned actor Khan’s manager demanded Rs 50 lakh for a two-hour appearance. He demanded the payment should be made in black and white. The black money component was to be 25 per cent of the deal amount and rest was to be transferred to Khan’s UAE (United Arab Emirates) based bank account.

    While singers Amanat Ali and Fateh Ali Khan’s managers demanded Rs 35 lakh and Rs 65 lakh, respectively, the former’s contract showed just Rs. 8 lakh and the latter’s 23 lakh including taxes. It is notable that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was detained at IGI airport in February 2011 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. He was carrying around Rs 60 lakh at the time. He was released only after paying a penalty. Abbas’s manager demanded Rs 35 lakh for a performance with Rs. 32 lakh to be paid in black while the contract was to reflect a fee of just Rs 3 lakh.

    Similarly, Hocance’s Pakistan-based manager demanded Rs 50 lakh for a two-hour appearance and asked for Rs 25 lakh in cash to be paid to her contact in Mumbai. The rest of the amount was to be transferred to Hocane’s Australian bank account.

    Since all the Pakistani artistes come to India on a work permit obtained through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for professional engagement, these activities violate statutory laws. The insistence for payment in black money also violates service tax and income tax laws. This conduct of the agents and managers of the Pakistani artistrs violate work permits rules and clearly go against the laws of the land

  • News18 India rebrands ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’; challenges status quo

    News18 India rebrands ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’; challenges status quo

    New Delhi, 09 November 2016: Network18 Group has renamed its Hindi general news channel as News18 India. The channel will today unveil a new brand identity, logo and tagline along with a refreshed on-air look. The new avatar of the channel will be revealed at 6.57 pm tonight with the main objective to create a distinct position for itself in the Hindi General News category. The channel’s digital presence will also be revamped with the launch of a newly designed news18india.com

    Speaking on the re-launch, Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A + E Networks | TV18 and President – Strategy, Product & Alliances, said, “We are not just rebranding the news channel, we are also putting into action an entire philosophy, a fresh approach focused on hard hitting journalism. There is constant need to innovate and stay relevant in the rapidly changing news environment. Through this refresh initiative, we intend to capture the viewer’s interest and also ensure impact through our news stories. Today, the viewers are overloaded with choices and information. In the midst of all this clutter, we are trying to create differentiation and relevance for our viewers and are confident about the change that we are actioning.”

    In the lead-up to the rebranding, the channel has strengthened its editorial team, introduced new anchors and launched new shows and formats. The refresh will build on this momentum with more impactful content, fresh packaging, and new studios adding to the experience being provided to the viewers.

    Prabal Pratap Singh, Consulting Editor, News18 India spoke regarding the new identity of the channel: “Our news channel has seen tremendous energy over the past few months. We have broken several big stories and I feel repositioning ourselves with the tagline “Danke Ki Chot Par” aptly captures the spirit of what we are trying to achieve. Going forward, the channel will continue to ask even more pointed questions with an aim to challenge the status quo. Editorially, the thrust will be on constructive criticism and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that our passion for fearless journalism results in positive impact on society.”

  • News18 India rebrands ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’; challenges status quo

    News18 India rebrands ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’; challenges status quo

    New Delhi, 09 November 2016: Network18 Group has renamed its Hindi general news channel as News18 India. The channel will today unveil a new brand identity, logo and tagline along with a refreshed on-air look. The new avatar of the channel will be revealed at 6.57 pm tonight with the main objective to create a distinct position for itself in the Hindi General News category. The channel’s digital presence will also be revamped with the launch of a newly designed news18india.com

    Speaking on the re-launch, Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A + E Networks | TV18 and President – Strategy, Product & Alliances, said, “We are not just rebranding the news channel, we are also putting into action an entire philosophy, a fresh approach focused on hard hitting journalism. There is constant need to innovate and stay relevant in the rapidly changing news environment. Through this refresh initiative, we intend to capture the viewer’s interest and also ensure impact through our news stories. Today, the viewers are overloaded with choices and information. In the midst of all this clutter, we are trying to create differentiation and relevance for our viewers and are confident about the change that we are actioning.”

    In the lead-up to the rebranding, the channel has strengthened its editorial team, introduced new anchors and launched new shows and formats. The refresh will build on this momentum with more impactful content, fresh packaging, and new studios adding to the experience being provided to the viewers.

    Prabal Pratap Singh, Consulting Editor, News18 India spoke regarding the new identity of the channel: “Our news channel has seen tremendous energy over the past few months. We have broken several big stories and I feel repositioning ourselves with the tagline “Danke Ki Chot Par” aptly captures the spirit of what we are trying to achieve. Going forward, the channel will continue to ask even more pointed questions with an aim to challenge the status quo. Editorially, the thrust will be on constructive criticism and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that our passion for fearless journalism results in positive impact on society.”

  • News18 India launches in the US

    News18 India launches in the US

    MUMBAI: Three months after the distribution JV between TV18 and Viacom18 called IndiaCast announced that its news brand called News 18 is going to be distributed internationally very soon, TV18 has now entered the US market with the launch of News18 India. The 24 hours television news channel is designed to give global audiences a window into India. The channel went live on 30 July on Dishworld and Dish Network Channel 711. 

     

    It can be noted that News18 India is already present in key south Asian diaspora markets that include the UK, Singapore and the Middle East (the latter two were added only recently).

     

    News18 India will be available to all viewers on the international base pack, English News pack and Hindi Mega pack, making this one of the most widely distributed Indian News channels in the US.

     

    News 18 provides all types of news from India including political and business as well as weather reports. The same team that produces news for the existing news channels in the IndiaCast portfolio such as CNN-IBN, CNBC TV-18, IBN7 produce news for News 18.

     

    News18 India is a unique news channel offering a dynamic and customised blend of business and general news programming at times that suit the US audience ensuring greater relevance for the viewers in the region.

     

    In addition to News18 India, IndiaCast distributes the flagship general entertainment channel Colors, other channels such as Rishtey, MTV India International and 6 ETV branded services in overseas markets.

     

    IBN News Networks CEO Avinash Kaul said, “It gives me immense pleasure to expand our global footprint and to take the best of Indian News to every household outside of India. News18 India is a destination for definitive news for the Indian diaspora, a community of high achievers seeking Indian news and for ethnic conglomerates with business interests in India. At a time when the world is watching India, News18 India will serve as the world’s window into India.”

    “After UK, Singapore and the Middle East, News18 India now launches in the US. We are confident that News18 India, with a customised offering for the US market, will fill the void of a comprehensive business and general news service from India. This would be our seventh channel on the Dish network and with them we found a perfect partner to bring this channel to all viewers who want a window into India,” added India Cast group COO Gaurav Gandhi.