ITV

Tag: Prism TV

  • Viacom18 completes merger of Prism TV

    Viacom18 completes merger of Prism TV

    Mumbai: Viacom18 has completed merger of Prism TV Private Limited, thereby integrating five regional channels – Colors Kannada, Colors Marathi, Colors Bangla, Colors Odiya and Colors Gujarati within its fold.

    Commenting on the merger, Viacom18 CEO Sudhanshu Vats said, “The regional entertainment broadcast pie commands ~30% viewership in the Indian broadcast space and as consumer preferences are moving towards segmented regional content, this share is only going to grow. This merger allows us to create a single brand that can leverage the individual strengths of the regional channels and harness synergies in terms of content strategy and business processes, helping us amplify long term value for Viacom18. I am particularly pleased that this process has been completed at an opportune time when we are gearing up to celebrate our 10th anniversary, in 2017, with a bigger and unified Team Viacom18.”

    With this merger, not only the regional brands but also the Prism TV workforce will become part of Viacom18 and be assimilated seamlessly into its cultural ethos.

    Viacom18 had recently launched Colors Super, its second Kannada GEC, further strengthening its share in the Kannada market which it already dominates with Colors Kannada. With this merger, the network seems poised to significantly dial up its regional play at a time when the regional GEC genre is fast emerging as the next ‘big thing’ in the Indian broadcast sector.

  • Viacom18 completes merger of Prism TV

    Viacom18 completes merger of Prism TV

    Mumbai: Viacom18 has completed merger of Prism TV Private Limited, thereby integrating five regional channels – Colors Kannada, Colors Marathi, Colors Bangla, Colors Odiya and Colors Gujarati within its fold.

    Commenting on the merger, Viacom18 CEO Sudhanshu Vats said, “The regional entertainment broadcast pie commands ~30% viewership in the Indian broadcast space and as consumer preferences are moving towards segmented regional content, this share is only going to grow. This merger allows us to create a single brand that can leverage the individual strengths of the regional channels and harness synergies in terms of content strategy and business processes, helping us amplify long term value for Viacom18. I am particularly pleased that this process has been completed at an opportune time when we are gearing up to celebrate our 10th anniversary, in 2017, with a bigger and unified Team Viacom18.”

    With this merger, not only the regional brands but also the Prism TV workforce will become part of Viacom18 and be assimilated seamlessly into its cultural ethos.

    Viacom18 had recently launched Colors Super, its second Kannada GEC, further strengthening its share in the Kannada market which it already dominates with Colors Kannada. With this merger, the network seems poised to significantly dial up its regional play at a time when the regional GEC genre is fast emerging as the next ‘big thing’ in the Indian broadcast sector.

  • Viacom completes process of 50% acquisition in ETV channels from Reliance

    Viacom completes process of 50% acquisition in ETV channels from Reliance

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc, which received approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to acquire 50 per cent equity stake in Prism TV for Rs 9.4 billion (approximately $153 million) earlier this month, has completed the transaction.

     

    The transaction was completed today (31 July) between Nickelodeon Asia Holdings Pte Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., and Shinano Retail Private Limited, a company effectively 100 per cent owned by Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.

     

    Prism runs five regional language general entertainment channels namely ETV Marathi, ETV Gujarati, ETV Kannada, ETV Bangla and ETV Odia, all of which were recently rebranded under the Colors umbrella.

     

    With this acquisition, Viacom Inc. will hold 50 per cent of Prism TV and the remaining 50 per cent interest will continue to be owned by the Network18 Group, Viacom’s partner in the Viacom18 joint venture.

     

    Viacom18 operates 10 channels including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Colors.  The deal gives Viacom a significant presence in the fast growing regional TV sector in India, where almost 60 per cent of the population of more than 1.2 billion people speak regional dialects as their first language. Collectively, regional TV stations account for the second largest share of viewing in the Indian market, behind only Hindi general entertainment channels.

     

    Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “We’re thrilled to be broadening our presence in one of the largest and fastest growing TV markets in the world, and deepening our already strong partnership with Network18.  This acquisition is an important step in building on our leadership position in India, a key market in Viacom’s international growth strategy.”

     

    Network18 CEO AP Parigi added, “This acquisition by Viacom International Media Networks further strengthens the partnership with Network18 both in terms of depth and breadth. I am confident India will emerge as a global entertainment powerhouse in the year ahead.”

     

    Viacom International Media Networks president and CEO Bob Bakish said, “Regional TV networks – and regional ad markets – are the next wave of growth in India. Having a strong national and broad regional presence gives us a powerful platform to launch additional brands, and introduce successful franchises and formats across India.”

     

    Viacom18 group CEO Sudhanshu Vats said, “This acquisition is a big milestone for Viacom & Network 18 and it showcases their combined conviction to build a powerful broadcast offering for the Indian market.  We are delighted by the transaction and the next growth phase for the companies.”

  • Viacom18 completes ETV Kannada re-branding under Colors umbrella

    Viacom18 completes ETV Kannada re-branding under Colors umbrella

    MUMBAI: The Colors family of channels is growing rapidly. After re-branding ETV Marathi, ETV Bangla, ETV Gujarati and ETV Odiya recently, Viacom 18 has now re-branded ETV Kannada as Colors Kannada. With this, Viacom 18 completes the re-branding of Prism TV’s five ETV regional general entertainmentchannels under the Colors brand name.

     

    The 14-year-old ETV Kannada will be re-branded as Colors Kannada on 26 April, 2015 and will reflect the distinctive culture and traditions of Karnataka through its differentiated content.

     

    The channel takes its legacy forward with the new brand philosophy – ‘OndeSambandha, Ade Anubandha.’ The channel is set to offer high octane entertainment through the week, which will culminate into a celebratory gala on 26 April marking the metamorphosis of this journey.

     

    Viacom18 EVP and project head – Colors Kannada, Colors Bangla and Colors Odiya Ravish Kumar said, “These are exciting times for Kannada television – as we enter this new phase of growth, consumer delight shall continue to be the key driver for Colors Kannada. We hope to up the ante and continue the surprise viewers in the future too.”

     

    Colors Kannada business head Parameshwar Gundkal added, “We have excelled in providing innovative and engaging content that has delighted viewers and set new standards for both the market and for us to surpass. We further hope to make Colors Kannada the one stop for Kannada entertainment.”

     

    As part of the pre-launch campaign, all the artists associated with the channel will come together to unveil the Colors Kannada logo. Mega episodes of the following shows will be aired through the week before launch day:

     

    22 April – Lakshmi Baramma, 7:30-8:30 pm 

    23 April – Agnisakshi, 8 – 9 pm

    24 April- Akka, 8:30-9:30 pm

    25 April- A special slot Dancing Talkies, Maja Talkies, 8 – 9 pm

    25 April- Dancing Star, 9-10:30 pm

    26 April- Ugramm– movie premiere, 2 pm

    26 April- rebranding event, 6 pm