ITV

Tag: Odisha

  • Videocon d2h adds Kanak news channel to its portfolio

    Videocon d2h adds Kanak news channel to its portfolio

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h has added Kanak news channel to its Odia bouquet.  The channel will be available on channel no. 840.

    The DTH platform has 10 general entertainment, music, movie channels and services in Odia with 6 news channels.

    Videocon d2h executive director Saurabh Dhoot said, “With Kanak News we now offer the highest number of Odia channels and services in the country. This addition affirms our resolve to rein in the market by bringing in products and services that fulfill our customer needs.’’

    “Kanak News will enhance our competitiveness in Odisha market. With this channel available in our bouquet, we hope to gain traction in our market share in the state”, added Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera.

    The platform has a line-up of more than 550 channels and services including a host of regional channels and offers a wide range of active services like smart services including Smart English, Smart Games. The other active services include d2h Hollywood HD, d2h music, d2h spice, d2h cinema in both standard definition and HD, etc.

  • Videocon d2h adds Kanak news channel to its portfolio

    Videocon d2h adds Kanak news channel to its portfolio

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h has added Kanak news channel to its Odia bouquet.  The channel will be available on channel no. 840.

    The DTH platform has 10 general entertainment, music, movie channels and services in Odia with 6 news channels.

    Videocon d2h executive director Saurabh Dhoot said, “With Kanak News we now offer the highest number of Odia channels and services in the country. This addition affirms our resolve to rein in the market by bringing in products and services that fulfill our customer needs.’’

    “Kanak News will enhance our competitiveness in Odisha market. With this channel available in our bouquet, we hope to gain traction in our market share in the state”, added Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera.

    The platform has a line-up of more than 550 channels and services including a host of regional channels and offers a wide range of active services like smart services including Smart English, Smart Games. The other active services include d2h Hollywood HD, d2h music, d2h spice, d2h cinema in both standard definition and HD, etc.

  • DTH to benefit, Reliance Jio to intensify competition in DAS Phase III: Edelweiss

    DTH to benefit, Reliance Jio to intensify competition in DAS Phase III: Edelweiss

    NEW DELHI: Broadcasters are obviously clear winners, but the direct to home (DTH) platforms may ultimately become the greatest beneficiaries of Phase III of digital addressable system (DAS) by garnering incremental market share of more than 50 per cent.

     
    According to Edelweiss Securities Ltd, broadcasters will be one of the safest and most attractive plays on the digitisation theme, irrespective of higher subscriber additions by DTH or MSOs. “We expect a one-year lag for subscription revenue to flow (starting FY18) from the newly digitised subscribers,” Edelweiss said in its analysis of DAS Phase III.   

     
    “In our view, analogue signals will gradually switch off and substantial roll out of Phase III digitisation will take at least three to four quarters driven by mass media ads and proactive steps by DTH players, national MSOs & the regulator,” the firm said.

     

    However, this view is contrary to the Chrome Data Analytics’ claim of 70 per cent digitisation in Phase III. 

     
    With six states (Assam, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha and Tamil Nadu) stalling Phase III digitisation by eight weeks or more with High Court orders, Edelweiss says, “Uncertainty persists; we expect many more states to follow suit.” In Tamil Nadu, the stand-off between Arasu and the Information & Broadcasting Ministry will delay digitisation, as was the case with Chennai earlier. 

     
    Moreover, Edelweiss believes Reliance Jio’s entry in cable TV will intensify competition in the space. “Overall, we expect Zee, Sun TV, TV18 and Dish TV to be bigger beneficiaries of Phase III digitisation over the long term.”   

     
    In Phase I and II cities, MSOs were able to retain around 75 per cent of incremental market share, while DTH players managed to garner only 25 per cent.

     
    However in Phase III markets, Edelweiss says regional MSOs will have to incur substantial capex to make the cable infrastructure digital ready. “We believe DTH players will enjoy natural advantage over regional MSOs in Phase III markets.”

    Further, voluntary digitisation by national MSOs in Phase III markets, learnings from Phase I & II digitisation and parts of Phase III areas being contiguous with Phase I & II markets put national MSOs in better position than regional MSOs. 

     
    With the rollout of Reliance Jio, Edelweiss expects “competition to intensify in cable TV business. Cashing in on its strong balance sheet, RJio will fuel further competition in cable TV (free STBs, bundled services) in Phase I and II markets. We expect RJio’s entry to change the industry dynamics led by introduction of packaging and prepaid billing.”

  • Only 188 community radio stations operational even after a decade of this sector

    Only 188 community radio stations operational even after a decade of this sector

    New Delhi, 25 November: Even as 235 entities have signed the grant of permission agreement (GOPA) for setting up community radio stations in the country, the actual number of operational CRS is only 188 after more than a decade of launch of this sector.

     

    This shows an increase of only eight community radio stations since the last list issued in May this year.

     

    A total of 960 applications for CRS had been either rejected or withdrawn as on 15 November.

     

    However, another 323 applications are still under the consideration of the government from educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, Krishi Viguan Kendras and State Agriclture Universities. Some of these date back to 2011.

     

    The operational stations include 105 by universities and private and government educational institutions, seven by NGOs, seven by Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and five by State Agricultural Universities.

     

    State-wise, Tamil Nadu has the hghest number of CRS with 27, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 23. Maharashtra has 17, Madhya Pradesh has 15, and Karnataka has 14 stations. Uttarakhand, Haryana and Odisha have nine each; Kerala and Rajasthan have eight each; Delhi and Gujarat have six each; Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Telangana have five each; Assam, Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Puducherry, Punjab, and West Bengal have three each; Himachal Pradesh has two and Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand have one each.

     

    Thus, there are only three CRS in the northeast, and only one in J and K.    

     

    Though the scheme was launched around a decade earlier, the outreach of the Community Radio Stations was enhanced in 2006 to include non Governmental and Community based organizations with at least three years of legal existence.

  • Discovery channel to explore the richness of Odisha with a new broadcast

    Discovery channel to explore the richness of Odisha with a new broadcast

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel has launched a new programme Go India: Odisha which will showcase the picturesque landscape, the rich culture, the age-old traditions and the ancient monuments of Odisha. The broadcast premieres on 21 November at 7 pm. The show will be hosted by former Miss India- International, Gurleen Grewal.

     

    On a quest to experience the culture of Odisha, Gurleen Grewal meets the renowned Odissi dancer, Sujata Mohapatra, and takes a few quick lessons on dance steps and mudras of the Odissi dance form.

     

    Gurleen will also be seen meeting National award-winning craftsmen, while she apprentices as their assistant, and tries her hand at the beautiful pattachitra paintings along with world-famous ikkat weaving tradition. 

     

    To experience the thriving Buddhist tradition in Odisha, Gurleen will visit the largest Buddhist monastery, at Jirang in the Chandragiri district. While Gurleen is at the monastery, she gets a chance to watch a stunning masked dance performance, leaving her completely mesmerised.

     

    According to former Miss India International Gurleen Grewal, “Go India: Odisha is a captivating programme that explores the beauty and history of Odisha, a state which has so much to contribute to the Indian art and culture scene.  It is a detailed travelogue that will offer viewers a journey to discover the unknown and unique attractions of the state on Discovery Channel.”

     

    Go India: Odisha will feature birder and photographer Panchami Ukil who takes Gurleen bird-watching at Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon. Viewers will get to spot some, otherwise elusive, Irrawady dolphins at the Chilika lake. The viewers will also get a chance to visit Bhitarkanika National Park where extremely rare birds and massive estuarine crocodile are spotted.

  • Q2-2016: Ortel YoY revenue up 24.6 percent, PAT more than doubles

    Q2-2016: Ortel YoY revenue up 24.6 percent, PAT more than doubles

    BENGALURU: The Bibhu Prasad Rath-headed regional cable television and broadband internet player Ortel Communications Ltd  (Ortel) has reported a 24.6 percent growth in revenue from operations (TIO) at Rs 45.79 crore as in the quarter ended 30 September 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) as compared to the Rs 36.74 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. TIO in the current quarter was also higher by 12.8 percent as compared to the Rs 40.6 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. Ortel provides services in the Indian states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal,

     

    Notes: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    The numbers mentioned in this report are standalone.

     

    The company reported more than a doubling of PAT (up 2.3 times) to Rs 2.83 crore (5.9 percent margin) as compared to the Rs 1.23 crore (3 percent margin) in Q2-2015, and 15.9 percent more than the Rs 2.44 crore (5.7 percent margin) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Ortel President and CEO Rath said, “I am glad to report a strong operational and financial performance for the quarter ended   September 30, 2015. Performance during the quarter was driven by healthy addition in revenue generating units (RGUs) which stood at 571,834. We are witnessing encouraging traction to our LCO buyout strategy in emerging markets like Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and I am confident that this would sustain going forward. Going forward, we would continue with our strategy of aggressive LCO buyouts across all our markets and diligently integrate the new  subscribers into Ortel’s last mile network. Healthy contribution from new RGUs along with ongoing focus on the high margin Broadband business would enable us to deliver strong financial performance in the forthcoming years.”

     

    The company’s EBIDTA (TIO plus Depreciation and Amortisation plus Other Income plus Fixed assets written off minus Total Expenditure) increased 31.3 percent to Rs 17.29 crore (37.8 percent margin) in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 13.17 crore (35.8 percent margin) and increased 8.8 percent as compared to the Rs 15.89 crore (39.1 percent margin) in Q1-2016.

     

    Ortel’s YoY RGUs grew 9.2 percent to 571,834 in Q2-2016 from 523,833 in Q2-2015 and increased 5.5 percent from 542,217 in Q1-2016.

     

    Cable TV RGUs’ increased 9 percent in Q2-2016 to 508,171 from 466,305 in Q2-2015 and grew 5.6 percent from 481,317 in Q1-2016.

    Ortel’s YoY primary digital cable RGUs grew 33.2 percent to 117,401 in Q2-2016 from 88,106 and grew QoQ to 4.5 percent from 112,296 in Q1-2016. Analogue cable RGUs’ increased to 330,739 from 322,175 in Q2-2015 and from 307,923 in Q1-2016. The company says that its Cable TV penetration stood at 23.7 percent and penetration in select 10 towns where company offers digital services stands at 71 percent.

     

    Broadband customers grew 8.9 percent to 63,663 in the current quarter from 57,528 in Q2-2015 and grew 4.5 percent from 60,900 in Q1-2016.

     

    The company has reported a slight drop in digital and analogue cable and broadband ARPUs’ in the current quarter. Digital cable ARPU in Q2-2016 was Rs 183 in Q2-2016; Rs 187 in Q2-2015 and Rs 185 in Q1-2016. Analogue cable ARPU in Q2-2016 was Rs 143; in Q2-2015 it was Rs 147 and in Q1-2016, it was Rs 144. Broadband ARPU in Q2-2016 was Rs 183, in Q2-2015, it was Rs 187 and in Q1-2016, it was Rs 185.

     

     

    Cable Subscription, Connection and Channel carriage fees

     

    The company’s cable subscription fees in Q2-2016 increased 4 percent to Rs 20.6 crore as compared to the Rs 19.8 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 3 percent as compared to the Rs 20 crore in Q1-2016. Connection fees declined to Rs 0.70 crore in the current quarter from Rs 1.1 crore in Q2-2015 and remained flat as compared to the Rs 0.7 crore in Q1-2015.Channel carriage fees in the current quarter increased 44.9 percent to Rs 9.7 crore from Rs 6.7 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 23.8 percent from Rs 7.8 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Ortel

     

    Total Expenditure in Q2-2016 increased 13.3 percent to Rs 38.72 crore as compared to Rs 34.17 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 12.5 percent as compared to the Rs 34.42 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s Programming cost in the current quarter increased 7.2 percent to Rs 9.44 crore from Rs 8.81 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 5.9 percent from Rs 8.91 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Bandwidth cost in Q2-2016 increased 19.3 percent to Rs 1.92 crore from Rs 1.61 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 7.9 percent from Rs 1.78 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Employee Benefits Expense in the current quarter increased 45.5 percent to Rs 5.64 crore as compared to the Rs 3.88 crore in Q2-2015 and was 15.4 percent more than the Rs 4.89 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Last quarter, Ortel announced that it had introduced free broadband option for all Ortel Cable TV subscribers in the states of Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh as a complimentary special value added service in order to target to deeper penetrate into markets by making internet affordable. Ortel says that its offer includes a free data limit every month for a year. The subscriber will be charged a nominal amount after exceeding the free data usage for the month.

  • Eastern Media rebrands Odia infotainment channel Kanak TV

    Eastern Media rebrands Odia infotainment channel Kanak TV

    MUMBAI: In a bid to stay head to head with competition, Odisha based Eastern Media has revamped its Odia language infotainment channel Kanak TV as Kanak News. With the re-branding exercise, the channel is also eyeing a larger chunk of ratings.

     

    The channel started operations in 2009 and airs 24/7 news, current affairs and entertainment content. Post the revamp, Kanak News will sport a new tagline of ‘Paribartanara Swara,’ and will aim at being the voice of change for the people of Odisha across the horizon.

     

    Eastern Media executive director Tanaya Patnaik says, “A complete revamp had been on the cards for a long time now. With almost a dozen players in the market, it was important for us to change the way we look at news. We wanted to redefine the concept of prime time news. For us, every hour is prime time. We have been implementing these changes for the last couple of months and the response and ratings have been highly encouraging. Kanak News has a very young and energetic team and it has been working for us.”

     

    Providing an insight into the rebranding, Patnaik tells Indiantelevision.com, “It has been six years since we started operations and seeing other players, we thought it was time for us to undergo a revamp. As a part of the revamp, we will change our editorial strategies also. We will shift away from the bulletin formula to a more breaking news and debates situation. Previously, we had 60 – 65 per cent of news with the rest as current affairs. Now it will be a 80 – 20 proposition.”

     

    The channel will continue to be a free to air and hence relying on advertising revenue. “It will take time for pay channel phenomenon to work in Odisha. There are only two local pay channels in the state now. There are huge number of viewers in the state but 10 channels are a little too much at times,” she adds.

     

    Elections are the biggest source of revenue for both national and regional news channels. The national election and the state elections are held at the same time in Odisha, which impacts the business of news channels hugely. The ad rates normally fluctuates between Rs 500 – 600 but during elections it goes up to almost Rs 1500.

     

    Eastern Media also owns the largest circulated Odia daily broadsheet, ‘Sambad’ and radio channel Choklate 104 FM. Kanak News will use the resources of its sister companies.

     

    Speaking about how TAM ratings still decide the ad rates in the region, Patnaik says, “BARC is yet to give us data so clients are referring to TAM analysis. All the news channels are bragging about the ratings on air and promoting it aggressively and clients are going by that. Generating higher ratings is the other important reason behind us going through a revamp.”

     

    There are 140 to 200 TAM peoplemeters in Odisha and the number is innocuous when compared to the television households in the state. Nowadays, it is claimed that news is consumed most through internet, while television and newspapers are no longer the primary sources of information. However Patnaik begs to differ. “Unlike other states, newspaper circulations is still going up in Odisha. Additionally, there are many first time television buyers, so the primary sources of audio visual content consumption or news consumption are the traditional print and broadcast media and it will continue to be the same for the next six years at least. Internet is growing but at snail’s speed.”

     

    When it comes to penetration, cable remains the clear dominator in Odisha as 70 – 80 per cent of the population are cable TV subscribers, whereas areas uncovered by cable have DTH penetrations.

     

    Kanak News is available on Ortel Communication, Variety, Hathw@y and D2H platforms — Tata Sky, Dish TV and Jain Hits.

     

    Eastern Media chairman Soumya Ranjan Patnaik will continue to be the editor-in-chief and senior journalist Manoranjan Mishra will also be a part of the channel.

     

    Talking about the philosophy of the channel, chairman Soumya Ranjan Patnaik says, “Our stand is clear. We are not a neutral news channel. We have taken sides. We have taken sides for Odisha and every Odia and will be uncompromising while pursuing the State’s interest.”

     

    With its rebranding, the channel has also incorporated a few new programmes to its bouquet like Jatra Chalichi, Jeebana Ra Canvas, Business Leaders, Crime Reporter and Page 3 amongst others.

  • Sarthak TV launches new reality show ‘Dance Queen’

    Sarthak TV launches new reality show ‘Dance Queen’

    KOLKATA: Sarthak TV, from the Odisha-based Sarthak Entertainment Group, has launched a new reality show Dance Queen from 29 January. The show will be aired every Thursday and Friday from 9-10 pm.

     

    “This is an innovative dance reality show for married women irrespective of age. The main motto is to allow housewives to entertain themselves as well the audience including their family members. A married woman whether working or housewife, old or young has dreams within her, perhaps ambitions too and mostly has an unreleased childish energy which perhaps stays suppressed due to societal norms and pressures,” said Sarthak Entertainment Group marketing manager Debi Prasad Padhi.

     

    Now, Sarthak TV gives them a platform for realizing their dreams or aspirations, which they might have had in their early years, said Padhi.

     

    Padhi further claims that it is for the first time in the history of Odisha television industry that such a unique reality show has been launched for the common woman.

     

    “We aim to bring the show on a huge reality show format, which has never before been attempted by any other channel in Odisha and is expected to garner very high TRPs then any other show before,” added Padhi.

     

    When being asked about the event flow, Padhi said that from 25 January, auditions were held at different cities in the state of Odisha like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Rourkela among other locations. “Thousands of participants showcased their talents and entertained our celebrity judges. The event flow will have auditions, mega audition, studio round, semi final, and grand finale,” he said.

     

    The show will have celebrity judges like actress Riya Dey, veteran actor Sritam Das, superstar Bobby Mishra, and dancer and actress Koel Mukherjee. “Their presence will not only ensure high TRPs but assist the participants to hone their dancing skills,” Padhi said.

  • Odisha’s Sarthak TV stays on top, Tarang TV inches closer

    Odisha’s Sarthak TV stays on top, Tarang TV inches closer

    KOLKATA: Odisha’s Sarthak TV continues to dominate the chart in week 28 of TAM TV ratings garnering 6,577 GVTs even though it fell down from 8,376 GVTs.

     

    While GEC Tarang TV has shown improvement as it achieved 6,145 GVTs, up from 6,054 GVTs and inched closer to Sarthak TV. On the other hand, OTV witnessed a drop in the viewership as it recorded 6,123 GVTs, down from 7,446 GVTs.

     

    When we talk about Prarthana and MBCTV, they garnered 3,243 GVTs and 5,187 GVTs respectively. Meanwhile ETV Oriya stood at 1,862 GVTs, Tarang Music noted 1,122 GVTs, Z Kalinga observed 618 GVTs, Focus Odisha garnered 423 GVTs, and Kanak TV noted 453 GVTs.

  • It’s a win again for Odisha’s Sarthak TV

    It’s a win again for Odisha’s Sarthak TV

    KOLKATA: In the week 27 of TAM TV ratings, Odisha’s Sarthak TV continues to lead the chart. The channel has garnered 8,376 GVTs, up from 6,980 GVTs a week before.

     

    Second placed, OTV has witnessed improvement in terms of viewership and registers 7,446 GVTs, up from 3,615 GVTs. At number three stood Tarang TV which also saw a growth in the viewership and recorded 6,054 GVTs, up from 5,704 GVTs.

     

    Rest, Prarthana and MBCTV garnered 4,907 GVTs and 4,074 GVTs respectively. ETV Oriya noted 2,185 GVTs, Tarang Music stood at 1,309 GVTs, Z Kalinga recorded 930 GVTs, Focus Odisha observed 704 GVTs, and Kanak TV registered 422 GVTs.