ITV

Tag: Pankaj Balhara

  • Zing to launch youth-centric content for TV

    Zing to launch youth-centric content for TV

    Mumbai: Zing is set to transform television viewing by introducing digital content to traditional TV screens. Aiming to meet the evolving preferences of younger audiences, Zing combines the appeal of digital platforms with conventional television.

    As part of this initiative, Zing will launch ‘Short Storiyaan’ and ‘Series Showcase’, featuring popular shows in condensed formats tailored for today’s youth. In collaboration with production houses Natak Pictures and Content Ka Keeda, Zing curates content that reflects the interests of the younger generation.

    Starting 2 November, ‘Short Storiyaan’ will showcase award-winning short films known for their storytelling. Meanwhile, ‘Series Showcase’, launching on 17 November, will feature a selection of web series that explore themes of love, friendship, and heartbreak—topics relevant to Gen-Z. These narratives aim to entertain while resonating with the real-life experiences of today’s youth.

    Zing & FTA business head Pankaj Balhara said, “The entertainment landscape is evolving rapidly, with digital content gaining significant traction among young audiences. We are thrilled to bring these compelling stories to television screens, offering an experience that aligns with the preferences and lifestyles of today’s generation. While smart TV adoption continues to grow and streaming consumption still is prevalent on smaller screens, Zing bridges this gap by delivering high-quality content to larger television screens. This approach enhances the viewing experience and caters to our diverse audience across metropolitan and regional cities. Also, recognizing that television is inherently a family viewing experience, we have been mindful of the content we present, ensuring it is suitable and enjoyable for all viewers. At Zing, our unwavering commitment to innovation drives us to stay ahead of the curve by expecting and responding to the evolving needs and preferences of our audience. Through the continuous refinement and expansion of our offerings, we ensure that our content consistently exceeds consumer expectations, securing our position at the forefront of the entertainment industry.”

  • Zing launches #Apnichoicessechamko campaign

    Zing launches #Apnichoicessechamko campaign

    Mumbai – Zing is set to brighten the festive season with campaign, #Apnichoicessechamko. Aiming to make a meaningful impact, the campaign highlights the importance of personal victories achieved through everyday choices, celebrating how even the smallest decisions, rooted in self-belief and perseverance, contribute to a life filled with true joy and purpose. The campaign reminds us that, just like Diwali lights up our lives, our own choices can lead us toward lasting happiness and fulfilment, embodying the festive spirit of transformation and renewal.

    The new promo presents a powerful narrative that resonates with young audiences, drawing parallels to the teachings of the Ramayana, where good triumphs over evil. It highlights relatable moments of self-discipline and resilience in the lives of young individuals, who face modern distractions and challenges yet choose to stay true to their goals. This message of staying grounded despite life’s hurdles reflects the essence of Diwali’s light—symbolizing the gradual but sure triumph of positive choices over challenges. Through these small, steadfast victories, Zing’s campaign shines a spotlight on the youth’s potential to not only transform their lives but also inspire those around them.

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by Zing! (@zingtv)

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Zing business head,  Pankaj Balhara said, “Diwali, with its roots in ancient scriptures, symbolizes the ultimate triumph of light over darkness. With #Apnichoicessechamko, we are connecting this timeless message to today’s world, encouraging our young audience to discover strength in their own positive choices and to recognize the lasting glow they bring to their lives and the lives of others. Our viewers face unique pressures in today’s world, but we believe that with consistency and courage, they can illuminate their lives and those around them. We are thrilled to present this message of empowerment, which also reflects the wisdom of our cultural heritage.”

  • Get your giggles on with “Oh Teri!” on Zing!

    Get your giggles on with “Oh Teri!” on Zing!

    Mumbai: Popular youth entertainment channel, Zing, remains steadfast in its commitment to embodying the spirit of the youth. Following the successful launch of ‘Snaackz’, which features content tailored to Gen-Z’s lifestyle needs from upcoming lifestyle content creators, Zing now aims to delight audiences with ‘Oh Teri!’. This exciting addition promises to elevate the humour quotient with a collection of prank videos from the top creators in the space.

    Scheduled to premiere on 5 May 2024, which is ‘World Laughter Day’, ‘Oh Teri’ is set to become a staple for those seeking a good laugh. The line-up of contributors includes ‘Sahil Virwani Pranks from Mumbai’, ‘Devraj Das and Swagata Banerjee aka Prank Buzz from Kolkata’ and ‘Ravi Yadav aka DR Prank from Prayagraj’, each renowned for their distinct comedic flair. These creators have a robust fan base across social media platforms with over 4Mn subscribers collectively. Oh Teri! guarantees a laugh-a-minute with a unique brand of humour on display, from rib-tickling prank videos and light-hearted mischief to hilarious chaos. Just like ‘Snaackz’, ‘Oh Teri!’ will also be promoted across mediums to ensure it reaches our audiences on TV and Social Media.

    Commenting on the launch, Zing business head Pankaj Balhara shared, “With ‘Oh Teri!’ we have an exciting addition to Zing’s content offering! Humorous content has a unique way of connecting Gen-Z and spreading joy, especially given the fast-paced world we live in where everything is on the go. By providing a platform for up-and-coming creators, Zing is not only entertaining its audience but also fostering a community where talent can thrive. With this initiative, our aim is not only to entertain but also to empower creators from across India to reach wider audiences. With “Oh Teri!” Zing endeavours to become the go-to destination for hilarious and engaging content that resonates with the youth.”

    By offering a stage to creators nationwide, Zing persistently reshapes the digital entertainment landscape, forging stronger bonds with its audience while serving up limitless entertainment. Zing has always been at the forefront of creating relevant content for the Youth and with Snaackz and Oh Teri! this is just the beginning to what lies ahead.

    ‘Oh Teri!’ premieres 5 May, only on Zing! Brace yourselves for laugh riots and to say Oh Teri!

  • Zing’s Women’s Day campaign ‘Empower Not Embarrass’ takes a stand against online trolling

    Zing’s Women’s Day campaign ‘Empower Not Embarrass’ takes a stand against online trolling

    Mumbai: In a bid to counter rampant online harassment against women, Zing, the popular youth entertainment channel, launched its impactful Women’s Day campaign, ‘#EmpowerNotEmbarrass’. The campaign went beyond the mere celebration of women’s achievements; it challenged the status quo and advocated for a shift in people’s behaviour online. Zing firmly opposed the culture of trolling and negativity while iterating the importance of fostering a digital sphere free from harassment and abuse.

    The #EmpowerNotEmbarrass campaign shed light on the harsh reality of how every eight out of ten women faced online harassment, often in the form of abuse, malicious gossip, trolling, and even threats of violence. The data paints a grim picture, as women face three times more abuse than men with cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad reporting particularly high occurrences. As per surveys in 2023, nearly 83 per cent of those surveyed believed more actions needed to be taken to make it safer for women to use the internet. It is also observed that regardless of their profession or content style, women face trolling. It’s not just limited to dance reels or entertainment; it affects all forms of content creation. Through this campaign, Zing endeavoured to initiate a positive transformation within society.

    Zing has always advocated and supported a positive space for women, whether through its flagship show Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, or the recently launched Snaackz video series featuring three up-and-coming content creators. For this Women’s Day, Zing rolled out a captivating video featuring women from different walks of life following their passion and expressing themselves, only to be met with comments of ridicule and hate. The video concluded with a resounding message, empowering women, and commemorating Women’s Day with the ethos of Empower Not Embarrass. Additionally, Zing also asked its viewers on-air to pledge support through a vignette, by trolling the trollers with love and to comment using the hashtag #EmpowerNotEmbarrass to make a difference. The videos successfully resonated with the masses and garnered over 1.1M video plays, 935K reach across platforms. It also received 30% higher engagement as compared to other posts on Zing.

    Talking about the campaign, Zing chief channel officer Pankaj Balhara said, “This Women’s Day, we at Zing made a strong stand against online trolling directed towards women with the #EmpowerNotEmbarrass campaign. There are enough and more studies online on the current reality of trolling, Zing is trying to bring about a positive change in society through this initiative. We seek to educate society and convey the message, that the power to change lies within, they can make a difference and act towards this change.”

    “The idea is to reduce the impact through positive comments, by doing so we can dilute the negativity on the timelines of women. To celebrate Women’s Day, we asked our viewers and followers to support the #EmpowerNotEmbarrass movement to build a future where women are celebrated and respected both online and offline,” he further added.

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by Zing! (@zingtv)

     

  • ‘Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya’ returns with season 12 on Zing

    ‘Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya’ returns with season 12 on Zing

    Mumbai: Zing is all set to showcase season 12 of its hugely popular show “Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya” (PTKK) starting 14 August every Saturday at 7 p.m. 

    The show will present 15 new-age love stories filled with friendship, drama, and romance. The idea behind this season’s theme emerges from the insight that the definition of love has evolved for GenZ, said the channel.

    PTKK is among the most successful IPs at the channel and has been running for the past seven years.

    Commenting on the launch of the latest season, ZEEL’s deputy business head – music cluster, Pankaj Balhara said, “It has been a wonderful journey for us with PTKK. The show has hit all the right chords with the viewers from the first season. We are glad that we have a dedicated audience base that is connected deeply with the show. Like every season, even this time we have taken a theme that is relevant to Gen Z and their relationships today, making the content extremely relatable. We are confident that this season, like every other season, will strike a chord with our audience.”  

  • Guest column: Roll camera, action – the show must go on

    Guest column: Roll camera, action – the show must go on

    MUMBAI: ZeeL music cluster deputy business head Pankaj Balhara shares his learnings from 2020:

    1. TV is king

    We always had the conviction within the network about the power of TV, and all those questions were put to rest with the trends and data seen during the lockdown – that OTT and TV can co-exist. Specifically, with our TG (the youth), their consumption also increased during the lockdown but overall, it has remained consistent since the past four to five years.

    2. Resilience and innovation of our industry  

    If Covid2019 has taught the entertainment industry anything, it’s that we can’t continue to go on as we have. After a gap of 100 days due to the national lockdown, it was ‘roll camera, action’ again for the entertainment industry, but even in this phase the industry has shown the resilience to innovate and adapt successfully. During the lockdown, the television industry introduced content which was shot from home. TV merged into the virtual space and everyone in the entertainment industry managed to run their operations innovatively. Adapting to the new norms, TV constructed stories and scenes to keep everybody reasonably distanced. With the ongoing pandemic in mind, makers created new shows that both reflect the socially distanced moment and use its tools. What's exciting overall is that Covid has pushed the industry to work in so many creative ways.

    3. TV and food are two true loves for Indians

    The Covid2019 pandemic has pushed television viewership to record levels as it has seen unprecedented growth. Television consumption at this scale hasn't been witnessed or even imagined before. TV continues to attract maximum new eyeballs as the coronavirus outbreak keeps other options of outdoor entertainment limited. With social distancing and work-from-home being the new normal, families have found themselves with a lot more together time, be it having meals to watching their favourite movies or shows together. Same goes for food – as the pandemic made us housebound, we began buying, cooking, and eating very differently. Today both television and food has taken a centre stage at homes for family bonding and entertainment.    

    4.  And above all, life and entertainment must go on!

    There is no historic parallel to the crisis and uncertainty brought about by Covid2019. But the pandemic has taught us that we don't need too much to be happy. There can be a pause, but life doesn’t get stagnant. The show must go on.

    (The author is deputy business head of ZeeL music cluster. Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to his views.)

  • Zing’s Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya has touched 14 million hearts with the campaign #DearLove

    Zing’s Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya has touched 14 million hearts with the campaign #DearLove

    MUMBAI: After a successful run for six years and ten seasons, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya on Zing came back with an all new season 11, showcasing new age love. The show has been a favorite among Gen Z and they have always come back for more. The theme of the new season, currently on-air is about confusions in love. Love and confusion go hand in hand especially for this young audience. Backed with a strong consumer insight that suggested that Gen Z are always in need to understand these confusions and looking for to navigate through these situations.

    The campaign kickstarted with a promo called #DearLove, which was an open letter to love. It encapsulated numerous things which the youth wanted to tell, ask or even express their confusion to #DearLove. The promo had the exact amount of emotional sentiment, confusion and thus sparked a conversation among Youth. The promo was showcased extensively on TV (across Zee Network) and on digital mediums.

    Content marketing was the focus of the first leg of the campaign wherein Zing roped in young influencers who carried forward this conversation with #DearLove. From Anubhav Bassi, Ansh Pandit, Nidhi Narwal to Saloni Gaur, who all have a very strong follower base among young India, took to Instagram and created short videos in their own style titled #DearLove. Soon this conversation was all over the internet, people joined in by making their own versions of #DearLove. The campaign got 7.68 million views across social media and YouTube. The conversations addressed to #DearLove were in the form of videos, messages, reels and everyone joined in to say something to love amassing 21.2 million impressions & 14 million reach across the Internet. To make it even more fun, Zing launched a Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya filter on Instagram. The filter had messages from Love itself. The responses left people smiling because of its high relatability and quirkiness. People joined in curiously to know what love has in store for them. The filter received 300K impressions within three days of its launch and was used by 35K users within this time period. Apart from the above, Zing caught on to the popularity of doodle art among this TG and created comic strips as a teaser for each episode. The comic strips received a phenomenal response from the audience as they were widely shared by the youth.

    Top brands such as Paree Sanitary Pads, Yamaha Faschino 125 Fi, Vicks cough drop, Philips One Blade, made most of the opportunity and partnered with the show’s launch campaign to strengthen their connect with youth

    Zing has Paree Sanitary Pads as PTKK’s title sponsors. Zing took an innovative approach for this association by not just doing TV integrations but generating larger conversations across digital mediums through comic strips, engagement polls, digital videos, etc. The conversations were not just addressing women, but the channel attempted to normalize these conversations with men as well. This association is a true exemplification of the synergy between the two brands and the belief and vision carried out by them.

    #DearLove campaign has won hearts with people pouring in with their messages to Love. Due to high relatability, people connected with the campaign and created a lot of conversation around the same.

    Zeel music cluster deputy business head Pankaj Balhara said, “It's been a wonderful journey for us with PTKK for the past six years and we are glad that we have a fresh and edgy content that connects directly with the youth, their sentiments and perception. Coming from a strong consumer insight that suggested how love is confusing for this young audience and they are always looking for ways in order to navigate through these confusions, we designed the campaign #DearLove. Just like the show, #DearLove campaign has also struck a right chord with the youth and received tremendous response. With an all-encompassing marketing plan and a good media strategy in place, the campaign created endless conversations across Zing's digital and social media assets.”

  • Popular Marathi actors come together for the launch of Zee Vajwa

    Popular Marathi actors come together for the launch of Zee Vajwa

    MUMBAI: Zeel’s Marathi music channel – Zee Vajwa, has left no stone unturned to reach out to and connect with the audience. From the quirky and trendy #FullToVajwa challenge that took social media by storm to brand films promising to amplify Maharashtra’s everyday moments into a mahual with music and last but not the least popular celebrities from the industry coming together to introduce the channel in their own unique style; truly dialled up moments and created a launch mahaul across the state.

    It all kickstarted with celebrities partaking the #FullToVajwa challenge, a unique dance on the culturally vibrant sonic ID of Zee Vajwa. The challenge created a chain with multiple celebrities from the fraternity – Amey Wagh, Abhidnya Bhave, Prajakta Mali, Abhinay Berde, Amruta Deshmukh, Gayatri Datar, Phulwa Khamkar, Krutika Gaikwad and many more posting their videos and in turn challenging their fans and followers. The challenge quickly caught on generating 3.7 million+ views & 283K+ engagement on social media. Adding another feather to the hat, Zee Vajwa associated with Instagram's newest offering – 'Reels'. The 15-second videos on the platform opened a new world of possibilities with #FulltoVajwa challenge becoming Instagram Reels first ever regional channel launch tie-up. With every new video, followers passed the baton to their friends, thus creating a chain where everyone showed their dance moves on the upbeat brand tune. Participation in the#FulltoVajwa challenge brought in a wave of fun and enthusiasm amongst marathi youth allowing them to showcase their hidden talents online during these times of social distancing. To celebrate the overwhelming response from viewers, as a token of appreciation the channel showcased audience entries on-air on Diwali eve.

    The channel was welcomed by the entire Marathi industry from Nilesh Sable sharing about the launch in Chala Hawa Yeu Dya and Lav Re Toh Video, Advait Dadarkar in Dancing Queen, Gauri Kulkarni and Nikhil Damale in Almost Sufal Sampurna to last but not least Aadesh Bandekar in Home Minister, the hosts elaborated on how Zee Vajwa will amplify everyday moments into a mahual with best of marathi music, living up to the brand promise – Zee Vajwa, Kshann Gaajwa. 

    Zeel  music cluster  deputy business head  Pankaj Balhara said,  ‘Launching a channel in the current scenario was a challenge but we designed the campaign to use the two most powerful media in today’s time – TV & Digital. The #FullToVajwa challenge was a unique way to create a buzz about the channel launch and engage with our viewers while capitalizing on the strengths of both the mediums. The power of Zee Network was leveraged to maximize the reach to make this a successful launch campaign.”

    Top brands such as Yamaha Faschino 125 Fi, Garnier Men Shampoo Color, Cadbury Celebrations, Fogg, Jeevansathi and Santoor made most of the opportunity and partnered with the channel’s launch campaign to strengthen their connect with Marathi youth.

    With Zee Vajwa’s addition to the Zee Marathi channels bouquet, the audience is privy to a complete entertainment package from the network comprising of best of shows, movies and now music.

  • Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya returns with season 11 on Zing

    Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya returns with season 11 on Zing

    MUMBAI: Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya is back with a brand new season on Zing in the face of popular demand.

    Fans were eagerly waiting for the show’s return and made their wishes known to the makers through requests, DMs, comments. A digital video on Zing’s social media handles announced season 11 of the popular series, followed by a promo – ending the ordeal for the fandom.

    The theme of the new season is confusion in love – about the myriad situations which Gen Z goes through in order to understand this simple word ‘love’ but with a complicated twist. This season’s promo called ‘Dear Love’ captures the sentiment of the youth where they are writing an open letter to love and expressing their inner dilemma as well.  

    Pankaj Balhara, deputy business head of ZEEL’s music cluster, said, "This new season promises to showcase what love means to this new generation. Our audience understanding also indicated that the youth understands themselves and their problems better with such relatable content which gradually helps them navigate their lives.”  

    Season 11 of Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya began on 24 October, and will air every Saturday at 7 PM only on Zing.

  • Zing to launch a new gamified chat show ‘Zing Game On’ on 25 January

    Zing to launch a new gamified chat show ‘Zing Game On’ on 25 January

    MUMBAI: A quirky blend of music, cricket and masti, Zing is geared to launch a first of its kind gamified chat show ‘Zing Game On’. Hosted by loved actor-anchor Karan Wahi, the show will witness cricketers in a never seen avatar engaged in candid and entertaining conversations.

    Presented by Haldiram’s and co-powered by Fogg & Yamaha FZ-FSI, Zing Game On promises to showcase the unplugged side of cricketers for the first time on television wrapped in the world of music, cricket and entertainment on one platform. Starting from 25th January 2020, Zing Game On will be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm on Zing and will also stream on Zee5.

    Music cluster deputy business head Pankaj Balhara said, “After successful creation of IP’s like Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Aye Zindagi & Expedition, we want to continue creating compelling and differentiated IP’s and Zing Game On is the newest addition to the list. It was very challenging for us to crack a format which would be different from other chat shows. We wanted to bring alive the other side of cricketers through music & games which would be engaging for the audience to watch as well.  Hence even the choice of host was critical. Karan Wahi has not just played cricket but shared a great rapport with a lot of cricketers which was very critical to do justice to the format of the show. The whole package is aimed to keep the cricket fans and music lovers hooked on to their television screens as they watch them let loose on the show!

    With an eclectic mix of 14 cricketers from men’s & women’s Indian cricket team covering the legends, current stars & upcoming talent, Zing Game On is definitely going to unveil a lot of fun yet personal moments of these cricketers. From Shikhar Dhawan with his flute, Suresh Raina impressing everyone with a Saxophone, Jemimah breaking the stage with her performance with the band, Shreyas Iyer mesmerising everyone with his magic tricks & a rap, this show promises to reveal their never seen musical side as well!

    With a concept so unique, Zing has also devised a very new age marketing mix for the launch of Zing Game On. The plan involves a robust 360 degree campaign #GameFaceOn which brings out the concept of the unseen side of cricketers playing on a new pitch through music and games. Apart from an extensive network promo plan, trade marketing, outdoor, the campaign has a digital focus to grab the attention of the youth on their second screens. Zing is strategically launching on TikTok which is the fastest emerging entertainment platform that will be the house to exclusive content and funny behind the scene moments from Zing Game On post the on-air launch. To keep the social media topical, content is created around the ongoing cricket series to amplify the same. Even with the Press meet, not going the usual route, Zing partnered with a gaming arcade to make the interaction of Karan Wahi and media a lot of fun with competitions between the two and Karan challenging the press to bring their Game Face On!

    Summing up, expect some unknown revelations, fun banters and witness these cricketers playing games which will be beyond cricket. The opening batsman for the first episode is none other than the ‘Gabbar’ Shikhar Dhawan. The other cricketers who will be seen on the show are Yuvraj Singh, Virendra Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Umesh Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav, Nitish Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Chahar. With a host like Karan Wahi, the show promises to pack a punch as the cricketers unravel their other side and relive the memories from their growing up years.