ITV

Tag: Punit Goenka

  • Industry reactions on BARC India’s first TV ratings data roll out

    Industry reactions on BARC India’s first TV ratings data roll out

    MUMBAI: The seeds for a new television measurement body were sown in 2008 and after a good seven years, on 29 April 2015, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, a joint industry body, rolled out its first set of data for week 16.

     

    Post the release of the data, BARC India said in a statement, “It’s a momentous day in the history of Indian television that will change how content consumption will be monitored and measured. The wait for the industry is over as BARC India rolls out its first set of data.”

     

    The body will be releasing data for 1lakh+ C&S markets, which corresponds to a sample size of 10,760 households. BARC India will actually monitor 12,000 sample households for this, using a stratified random sampling technique that is proven statistically. This will go up to 20,000 reporting homes, with addition of the less than 1 lakh urban markets and rural areas to represent “What India Watches” in line with the Government of India, January 2014 notification.

     

    Speaking on the industry body’s new journey, BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta said, “I am thrilled to share the first set of Data and Highlights. Solving this puzzle has been an exciting experience and Team BARC India is proud to be creating history as the world’s largest and future ready television audience measurement service. Thanks to IBF, AAAI, ISA and all our partners for coming together and making this happen.”

     

    Just a few minutes after the first data was rolled out, BARC India chairman and ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka tweeted, “The launch of BARC India’s world class television audience measurement system makes it a historic day for the entire industry! With the implementation of @BARCIndia , the ecosystem has certainly turned absolutely transparent! @BARCIndia will certainly be the best solution to report what the nation is actually watching! I would like to thank @parthodasgupta, @paritoshZero ,#ShashiSinha,#SmitaJha & the entire @BARCIndia team for their commitment and hardwork!”

     

    According to Goenka, BARC India is committed to build a world class television audience measurement system. “With an aim to bring in utmost transparency within the ecosystem, BARC India will certainly be the best solution to report what the nation is actually watching,” added Goenka.

     

    Dentsu Aegis Network chairman and CEO South Asia Ashish Bhasin said, “Well I think overall BARC is a great step for us as a television measurement system as for the first time we will have transparent, robust measurement. While a lot of excitement is being generated over the data but the only word of caution I would give is that this is one week data of household level. We should give it a few months time for the data to stabilize before the real trends start emerging.  A trend is formed by several data points’ and this is just one. We will have to wait for a while for more trends to emerge.”

     

     

    Times Network MD and CEO MK Anand is happy with the results as it shows the network’s strength. “We are happy that the new measurement system is finally in place. We look forward to reaping the benefits of this evolved system to the maximum. BARC is technologically advanced and is larger than the erstwhile base of meters by almost two-and-a-half times. An extended viewer base will certainly help bring in more consumers into the analysed set and improve our services to them and thus generate more value. With BARC, we have retained the No.1 spot across channels, and we continue to lead the broadcast space in the respective genres we are present in with a clear margin. Times Network’s ‘Now or Nothing’ philosophy, helps us sustain our leadership across genres with differentiated and hard hitting content and stay on top of the audience pyramid as always.”

     

    Times Now editorial director and editor in chief Arnab Goswami added, “I am delighted with the BARC numbers. It shows us dominating half the market with the other half shared between the smaller English news channels. At 9 pm, we have 2/3rds of the audience with us, with the other one third shared between the smaller channels. Proves our theory that the viewer always chooses the number one news team. In English news now, there is no number 2.”

     

    On the other hand, India Today group CEO Ashish Bagga believes that the ratings by BARC India only adds credibility to the leadership status of Aaj Tak and the trust it enjoys with the news viewers. “The channel’s superiority is backed with years of unwavering focus towards excellence in journalism. I would like to congratulate the entire team at Aaj Tak for crossing another milestone and likewise to BARC for putting together a robust measurement system,” he said.

     

    Network 18 group CEO AP Parigi said, “The first week’s data shows CNBC TV18 as the #1 English business channel, CNBC Awaaz as the #1 Hindi business channel and CNN IBN as the #2 English news channel and IBN 7 as the #6 Hindi News Channel. Colors is #1 Hindi General Entertainment Channel in the prime time slot (7 pm to 11:30 pm). We should be patient and not jump to conclusions; a deeper understanding of how viewership numbers should be interpreted suggests that while one celebrates BARC’s roll out it would be prudent to wait till the system evolves.”

     

    Times Network senior VP and head- English entertainment cluster Vivek Srivastava said, “The first week BARC numbers are in sync with our expectations. Both our brands Movies Now and Romedy Now have been consistent leaders in their respective genres on TAM and we continue to lead the pack on BARC as well.”

     

    Contradicting the general reaction, Helios Media managing director Divya Radhakrishnan said, “These are initial knee jerk reactions. One will have to wait for individual level data as one cannot do media planning with household level data. Secondly, it does not cover all the markets. And thirdly in terms of upsets, it’s more or less the same pecking order except for one or two and there are real reasons why they are not featuring as well.”

     

    Knee jerk reactions aside, over the coming few weeks it will nonetheless be interesting to analyze, evaluate and interpret data from a larger television audience base as recorded by BARC.

  • Taj TV CEO Arun Kapoor quits; Rajesh Sethi to replace

    Taj TV CEO Arun Kapoor quits; Rajesh Sethi to replace

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd’s (Zeel) Taj TV has seen a senior level exit. Taj TV distribution business CEO Arun Kapoor has put in his papers.

     

    Ten Sports global CEO Rajesh Sethi will replace Kapoor, who has moved on to pursue alternate career interests.

     

    Sethi will be overlooking the sports and distribution business of Taj TV from 1 May, 2015. He will continue to report to Zeel MD & CEO Punit Goenka.

     

    Meanwhile, Kapoor will continue to be a part of the group and will help in streamlining and handholding Sethi in the transition over the next couple of months.

     

    Goenka said, “Arun was instrumental in setting up the team at Taj TV. He was also a part of the leadership team of the initial JV, which established the distribution business and harnessed available opportunities for the organization. We wish to thank Arun for the years of engagement with us and for contributing to the success of the organization; we wish him the best.”

     

    Speaking on Sethi’s appointment, Goenka added, “In the last 18 months, Rajesh has been a catalyst in turning around Ten Sports with a strong focus on processes, people and delivering a strong sustainable financial performance. I am confident that Rajesh’s rich experience and knowledge across multiple domains will help us to take Taj TV to the next phase of growth. We wish Rajesh and the entire distribution team the very best for continued success.”

     

    Kapoor said, “It was one of my most satisfying stints at Zee. Under the leadership and guidance of chairman and Punit, we have managed to establish Taj TV as one of the leading players today. I thank them for the opportunity and wish Rajesh and his team all the success.”

     

    Sethi added, “Media distribution is one of the fastest growing domains, with evolving regulatory mechanism, which offers both opportunities and challenges.  This challenges the traditional way of doing businesses and offers immense future opportunities. In a short span of its launch, Taj TV distribution has grown in revenues multi fold and successfully established itself as a dominant player in the distribution market. With the new team, I am sure, we will be able to tap this opportunity and contribute to further progress of the company.”

  • ZeeQ undergoes major revamp; sees 35 per cent revenue growth

    ZeeQ undergoes major revamp; sees 35 per cent revenue growth

    MUMBAI: Taking a step towards fostering curiosity amongst children through fun and entertainment, Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) forayed into kids television in 2012 with the launch of ZeeQ.

     

    The aim was to gain a foothold in a genre that was mostly dominated by foreign networks like Disney, Nickelodeon and Turner at that point of time. Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka during the launch mentioned that ZeeQ is an effort towards children learning in a safe environment.

     

    Now, three years since launch, the channel has undergone a major revamp. Kids is number three priority genre in Indian television and has high viewership not only among children but parents as well. Keeping this factor in mind, the channel has launched new programmes targeting SEC ABC 4-14 years.

     

    Additionally, the channel has been on an upward swing as it witnessed a 35 per cent revenue growth quarter-to-quarter basis.

     

    Now with summer kicking in, the time is just right to engage with the TG. Beginning 13 April, the channel launched a slew of 14 new shows across comedy, action and art and craft.

     

    When queried by Indiantelevision.com on the reason behind the revamp, ZeeQ brand and communications head Ashwin Sashital explains that like every other kids channel, its focus is on providing entertaining content during summer vacations. As per the trend, kids also prefer to view local content, he informs.

     

    Going the local way, ZeeQ launched two locally animated comedy shows – Bandbudh Aur Budbak and Pyaar Mohabat Happy Lucky along with a locally produced DIY show – The Art Room.

     

    To support the locally produced shows, the channel has a host of licensed properties like Burka Avenger, Shakimaan, He-Man, Sarah and Duckand Dino Paws to name a few.

     

    Barring two shows – Dinosaur Train and Zou, the entire content on the channel will be new. ZeeQ will launch new episodes of these shows, which are working well for them. Sashital says, “With the new high-concept shows on board, the ethos of the channel still stays healthy entertainment for the kids. We have designed shows where  parents can trust their kids to watch without supervision. For example, shows like The Art Room, which engages the kids in the art and craft genre and Burka Avenger, which addresses girl education etc. These programmes lay emphasis on knowledge, values and life skills in a very engaging way.”

     

    Unlike some players, who take feedback from their TG before a revamp exercise, ZeeQ did trend analysis based on TAM research data.

     

    While on the one hand, weekdays will be filled with new shows, weekends will be more for catch up stacked episodes and movies. Sashital says, “We have additional seasons of most of the shows and we will take a call depending on the response as to when they will launch.”

     

    To gain traction for its new shows, the channel has launched an extensive marketing campaign, which will be spread over a period of three months in the Hindi Speaking Market (HSM). The channel has started the rebranding with an extensive TV campaign on Zee network and other select channels.

     

    As part of the audience outreach programme, ZeeQ will organise on-ground activities and school contact programmes etc. based on the new shows. The channel is partnering with leading media houses for focused above the line (ATL) and below the line (BTL) promotional activities.

     

    “Activation plays a very critical part in engaging with kids. Summer workshops, school contact programs and mall activations are our key areas for promoting the shows and channels. About 60 per cent of our marketing budget is skewed towards activation,” concludes Sashital.

  • Zeel licenses home-grown format ‘DID’ to Thailand’s broadcaster

    Zeel licenses home-grown format ‘DID’ to Thailand’s broadcaster

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) has created a broadcast history by finalizing a syndication deal with JKN Global Media Limited Thailand for its home-grown format, Dance India Dance (DID). 

     

    It is a known fact that prime-time content in India has been laced with popular international formats, which are regularly imported and licensed by Indian TV channels from international broadcasters, production houses or format owners. 

     

    While Indian content being aired or repurposed on TV channels across the world is quite common, this particular syndication deal is a landmark achievement since it’s the very first time that a format created in India has been licensed internationally. The Indian content industry’s contribution to ‘Make in India’, literally.

     

    Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “At Zee, we have always believed in developing in-house formats. It was our belief in the concept of Dance India Dance that led to its growth from the regional to the international platform. Through this partnership with JKN Global Media Limited, DID will not only reach out to the South-Asian diaspora but the local, mainstream audiences in Thailand as well.”

     

    “Going forward, we hope to license not just Dance India Dance but our other home-grown formats to the international markets,” Goenka added.

     

    Commenting on the partnership, JKN Global Media Thailand MD Andrew Suteestarpon said, “I’m very pleased to develop the well-known format show called Dance India Dance into the local version. With the collaboration of Zee, I strongly believe in the professional team and the corporate experience that can lead JKN Channel into achieving a high success rating with Dance Thailand Dance.”

     

    Zeel global head syndication Sunita Uchil added, “We are very proud that our home-grown format Dance India Dance will now reach 22 million homes in Thailand through JKN Channel. Over the years, there has been an increasing demand for Indian content and we have endeavored to meet this demand by offering a wide array of entertainment content through customized services like dubbing and subtitling in foreign languages under the Zee Bollyworld umbrella. This deal embraces our global positioning of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is My Family’ and reinforces Zee Bollyworld’s leadership as the ‘one-stop shop for Indian entertainment content the world over.’”

  • Zeel appoints Piyush Sharma as CEO – new initiatives, India & APAC

    Zeel appoints Piyush Sharma as CEO – new initiatives, India & APAC

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) has appointed Piyush Sharma in its leadership team as CEO – new initiatives, India & APAC. 

     

    Sharma will be responsible for leading Zee’s new initiatives, which will showcase programming and content across multiple media platforms including TV, web, mobile and an on-demand streaming service.

     

    Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “Strengthening and bringing focus through deployment of right resources in businesses is a part of our organisation’s aspiration to achieve continued growth. Over the last two decades, Zee has been strengthening its position in the global markets. Piyush is known in the industry for his ability to reimagine businesses and build innovative business models. We have been laying special focus on content in the emerging markets and we are confident that Piyush’s talent and experience will help us in attaining our goal. We welcome Piyush to the Zee family and wish him success.”

     

    Sharma is known to be a start-up enthusiast with a proven reputation for value creation and growth. In his most recent stint, he has been credited with creating successful case studies, while bringing the licensed editions of some of the world’s most powerful international media brands into the country. He helped launch and build brands like Sports Illustrated, Travel + Leisure, Better Homes & Gardens and Maxim.

     

    Sharma added, “I am very excited about landing this tremendous opportunity at Zee. Both India and APAC are thriving markets and with the talented teams at Zee, I am confident that we would be able to create a profitable and large opportunity canvass while nurturing and strengthening the businesses in these markets.”

     

    Sharma last served as CEO for India operations of the $4 billion German MNC Burda International – operating in 18 markets with more than 300 consumer magazine brands.

  • &TV to commission locally produced content for UK audience

    &TV to commission locally produced content for UK audience

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s (Zeel) new Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC), which is slated to launch in the UK on 6 April, 2015, will be looking at airing locally produced content.

     

    The channel said that it plans to commission locally produced content, which is relevant for its audience base in the UK.

     

    Zee TV, which completed 20 years in Europe, saw actor Shah Rukh Khan along with the channel’s executives launching &TV in the UK at a special gala.

     

    The celebration was attended by Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka and &TV business head Rajesh Iyer.

     

    Talking about his long lasting relationship with Zee, Khan said that he was thrilled to officially launch the new channel along with Goenka.

     

    Commenting on the 20 years celebration, Goenka said, “We are proud to be a medium through, which Indians living abroad have stayed connected to their roots back home all these years and we will continue to entertain and engage audiences with a unique blend of high-quality and innovative programming.”

     

    Speaking about &TV’s launch in the UK, Goenka said, “&TV will offer a more substantial viewing experience to an audience that is always seeking fresh and relevant content. We are certain that with the launch of &TV, we will capitalize on further such opportunities to build a robust entertainment bouquet and march ahead towards achieving the global ambitions set for the company. Finally, we are so proud to be working with Shah Rukh Khan on our flagship show India Poochega – Sabse Shaana Kaun. Mr Khan has poured his heart and soul into the show and we know it will bring great joy to our European audiences.”

     

    Zee Europe CEO Neeraj Dhingra added, “Zee TV has been a pioneer in bringing great Asian entertainment to the UK and fostering the cultural ties with India. We are certain that with the launch of the contemporary channel &TV, these ties will strengthen. The channel promises multi-dimensional content and a strong line-up of entertainment and reality shows, and we are beyond excited to have Khan as the host of our flagship entertainment programme. We are certain that the audience will enjoy seeing a different side of their superstar.”

     

    &TV unveiled a range of its weekday programming at the event namely Razia Sultan, Begusarai, Gangaa, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai and Bhaghyalakshmi. The channel’s weekend shows include Killer Karaoke – Atka Toh Latkah and Tujhse Naaraz Nahi Zindagi.

  • Zindagi weaves Pakistani love story around partition

    Zindagi weaves Pakistani love story around partition

    NEW DELHI: Zindagi, the entertainment channel from the Zee stable, plans to make original programmes in India during the coming year and may also make some programmes, which have a combination of Indian and Pakistani artistes.

     

    Zindagi channel business head Priyanka Datta stressed that every serial has its own priority market and that the marketing budgets for this channel were comparable to any other general entertainment channel (GEC).

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Datta said that Zindagi was being touted as the only Hindi premium channel as it got the same kind of ratings that English TV channels get and no Hindi channel in the general entertainment channel commanded those ratings.

     

    Datta claimed that social media and digital platforms are being used actively to market the channel, which has a large following through mails and Twitter.

     

    Speaking on the sidelines of the new series Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam launch, which commenced on 23 March, she said that the series based on a Pakistani novel had been telecast on Pakistan Television in 2010 but Zee TV had acquired its rights for Zindagi. The new offering will be telecast every Monday to Friday, 8 pm onwards. 
     

     

    Since it is the only series on Zindagi based on the partition of the country, she said certain changes had been made to neutralize the depiction of partition-related scenes to ensure that it did not hurt the sensibilities of people on either side of the border. Datta also stressed that the series was primarily a love story and there was no unnecessary emphasis on partition and its aftermath. The research that had gone into the series also showed realism. 

     

    Denying the fact that the channel was popular only in north India because of its content, Datta said that it was popular not only all over India but was also seen in neighbouring countries including Pakistan.

     

    “Showcasing stories that bind hearts is our aim with every show that we launch on Zindagi. Very few television shows have the enduring impact of Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam. The show has beautifully dealt with the intricate emotions of love and separation and the poignancy showcased in the drama resonates even today. It is a never-seen-before portrayal of the essence of true love and we are sure that our audiences will enjoy it,” she said.

     

    Set in the 1940s, it is a heart-wrenching love story that depicts the myriad emotions that people went through then and how love triumphed amongst them all.

     

    Karachi based director Haissam Hussaim said love was a universal language and this series had also attempted to show this. Borders do not dilute this sentiment, he added. 

     

    Hussaim said that he had met the author of the novel ‘Bano’ and also done some research on his own. The author had told him that the story was partly based on experiences of some persons close to her, and partly fictionalized.   

     

    He said people needed to educate themselves so as not to be so intolerant.

     

    Lahore based actor Ahsan Khan said all the cast members were asked to read the novel before the series was made.

     

    Khan said, “I play the character of Bano’s brother Saleem, who believes that the nation should not be divided. I think the reason this show was a huge hit was because each and every character in the show has been very well defined and equal care was taken while casting and that is what did justice to this beautiful story. It’s a story that depicts myriad emotions that people went through then and how love triumphed amongst them all.”

     

    Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam marks the return of Fawad Khan, who is paired opposite Sanam Baloch essaying the role of Bano. It also features an ensemble of legendary and popular actors including Samina Peerzada, Ahsan Khan, Saba Qamar and Mehreen Raheal amongst a host of others.

  • Bharat Ranga launches new venture RanCorp Media

    Bharat Ranga launches new venture RanCorp Media

    MUMBAI: Former Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zeel) chief content and creative officer Bharat Ranga has launched his new venture called RanCorp Media Private Ltd.

     

    It may be recalled that Ranga quit Zeel in September last year after a 16-year long stint to explore newer avenues.

     

    When contacted by Indiantelevision.com, Ranga confirmed the development but refused to divulge further information on the same.

     

    RanCorp Media is a broadcast and digital media company. According to Ranga’s profile on a social media platform, the business plans for the venture is being prepared. The company will be involved in building video content brands that would participate in both traditional TV and digital sectors.

     

    During his career span with Zee, Ranga contributed to the overall growth of the organisation by leveraging new revenue opportunities, bringing about path-breaking content, starting new streams of content through new channel launches and transcending the business beyond geographies; to name a few.

     

    In Zeel, Ranga moved across functions and domains seamlessly, from sales to business head roles to being the international business head and then, the chief content and creative head for the organization. During his tenure, he was instrumental in creating value and building numerous opportunities for the organisation.

     

    An MBA from the University of Ajmer, he has also completed an Advanced Management Program from Wharton Business School. Before joining Zeel, Ranga had worked for companies such as Times of India and Modi Korea Telecommunication.

  • Marketing heads continue to roll at ZMCL

    Marketing heads continue to roll at ZMCL

    MUMBAI: In a recent churn of events at the Zee Media Corporation, resignations galore are pouring in and surprisingly they are all from the marketing department. 

     

    As was confirmed to Indiantelevision.com by various channel sources, Zee Media Corporation AVP marketing Manoj Sandal has put in his papers at the company. A pass out of Indian Institute of Commerce and Trade, Sandal was promoted to the rank of AVP marketing in April 2013.

     

    It may be recalled that the first resignation came in from Zee News AVP marketing Rohit Kumar, whose decade long tenure at the group ended a few days back.

     

    While the reason behind the same could not be ascertained, sources from the group said, “We are unaware about the reason but the call has been taken by the management entirely.”

     

  • ZEEL’s Punit Goenka receives Young CEO award

    ZEEL’s Punit Goenka receives Young CEO award

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) MD & CEO Punit Goenka has been awarded with the Young CEO award by CEO India Magazine.

     

    The award was presented to him by Tata Sons Group executive council member Dr N.S. Rajan.

     

    The Young CEO award recognises an extraordinary individual who has shown strategic foresight and leadership to deliver superior performance, effectively managed all key stakeholders and prepared the organisation for the next phase of growth.

     

    On receiving the award, Goenka said, “It is a great honour to receive this award and I would like to dedicate it to my team at Zee since the award focuses on both company success as well as personal achievements. I would also like to thank our chairman for his pioneering vision and continued guidance, which has been instrumental in helping us achieve our current leadership position.”

     

    The CEO Awards recognise exceptional and extraordinary individuals – both existing and aspiring CEOs. Some of the key leadership attributes that were embedded in the application, shortlisting and evaluation process included strategic and visionary, performance oriented, globally competitive, innovative, socially responsible, committed to skill and people development, focused on system and controls and aptitude to create and manage change.