ITV

Tag: Qubool Hai

  • Zee Anmol strengthens 9.30 pm band with ‘Qubool Hai’

    Zee Anmol strengthens 9.30 pm band with ‘Qubool Hai’

    MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its prime time slot of 9.30 pm, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ free to air channel Zee Anmol is all set to launch the show Qubool Hai from 15 February.

    The show will be aired seven days a week from Monday to Sunday at 9.30 pm.

    The love story of three individuals – Zoya, Ayan and Asad – who are starkly different from each other, Qabool Hai is about how their lives are entwined by the threads of destiny.

    The show stars Surbhi Jyothi, Rishabh Sinha and Karan Singh Grover in the lead.

    Qubool Hai is about a journey of life, its trials and tribulations and acceptance of one’s fate. The show, which earlier aired on Zee TV, also echoes the Zee Anmol philosophy of ‘Dil Choo Jaaye.’

    It may be recalled that Zee Anmol, which was ruling the ratings charts after the roll out of BARC India’s rural inclusive data last year, has now dropped to the fourth place in the Hindi general entertainment channels’ genre. How the channel chalks out its content strategy in the coming weeks remains to be seen.

  • Zee Anmol strengthens 9.30 pm band with ‘Qubool Hai’

    Zee Anmol strengthens 9.30 pm band with ‘Qubool Hai’

    MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its prime time slot of 9.30 pm, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ free to air channel Zee Anmol is all set to launch the show Qubool Hai from 15 February.

    The show will be aired seven days a week from Monday to Sunday at 9.30 pm.

    The love story of three individuals – Zoya, Ayan and Asad – who are starkly different from each other, Qabool Hai is about how their lives are entwined by the threads of destiny.

    The show stars Surbhi Jyothi, Rishabh Sinha and Karan Singh Grover in the lead.

    Qubool Hai is about a journey of life, its trials and tribulations and acceptance of one’s fate. The show, which earlier aired on Zee TV, also echoes the Zee Anmol philosophy of ‘Dil Choo Jaaye.’

    It may be recalled that Zee Anmol, which was ruling the ratings charts after the roll out of BARC India’s rural inclusive data last year, has now dropped to the fourth place in the Hindi general entertainment channels’ genre. How the channel chalks out its content strategy in the coming weeks remains to be seen.

  • Zee TV extends its weekday programming to 6 days with ‘Sunehra Shaniwar’

    Zee TV extends its weekday programming to 6 days with ‘Sunehra Shaniwar’

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL)’s Hindi GEC Zee TV extended its weekday primetime shows to six days a week from Monday to Saturday. 28 November onwards, the shows on the channel’s 7 to 9 pm  time slot will also  be telecasted on Saturdays.

     

    Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi said, “The objective of extending our weekday primetime properties to Saturdays is to give our audiences more. The move brings our protagonists even closer to our viewers.”

     

    While Satrangi Sasural and Sarojini have already been airing six days a week, popular shows like  Kala Teeka, Qubool Hai, Tashn-e-Ishq and Jamai Raja will now start airing at their respective time slots on Saturdays as well. With the introduction of ‘Sunehra Shaniwar’, Neeli Chhatri Wale will also air every Sunday at 8 pm.

  • Zee TV slots pre-Independence period drama at 9.30 pm

    Zee TV slots pre-Independence period drama at 9.30 pm

    NEW DELHI: Zee TV is all set to replace its existing 9.30 pm prime time show Qubool Hai with its new magnum opus Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani, which will showcase the lifestyle of royalty in pre-independent India against backdrop of history. Debuting on 27 July, the show will air from Monday to Friday at 9.30 pm.

    With this, Qubool Hai will move to 7:30 pm slot, further fortifying the early primetime band.

    Zee TV generally spends four to five per cent of the budget of any series on marketing and advertising the show and will do the same this time round too.

    Speaking to indiantelevision.com Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi said that while the amount of money being spent on Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani will be more or less the same as in previous programmes, it may be lower percentage-wise as the budget of the show is much higher.

    The show is being presented by Kelloggs and is being promoted across all television channels including the Zee network, and in other forms including newspaper advertisements and hoardings.

    What’s more, with an aim to pull in a new set of audience comprising mainly the youth, which is interested in history, Zee is also looking at marketing the show aggressively on the digital medium.

    Talking about the show, Hejmadi said, “Even when it comes to genres such as history and mythology, a most fascinating period that remains unexplored by Indian television is the pre-Independence era. This vibrant period of India’s history that saw a great upheaval also saw intense drama unfold in the lives of the royalty of the princely states. Behind empty walls of grandeur and fake displays of splendour was hidden the truth of erosion of wealth, insecurities, succumbing to British dominion, depression and bankruptcy. Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani is a story of love set against this most interesting canvas. It aims to give viewers an up close and personal view of the lifestyles and some of the most closely guarded secrets of the rich and royal of the 1940s. It is a work of fiction that draws inspiration from the lives of the royalty of that period.”

    Referring to why the series had history as a backdrop and not as the main peg, Hejmadi said, “Today’s generation is aware of history in terms of the Quit India movement etc. but not so aware of the way the royalty of the time lived and their mysteries. There has been an increased interest from the younger generation in the country’s history, and so the backdrop of the show had been placed in history amidst the World War and the freedom movement even though the story has been based on a fictional love story.”

    Hejmadi admitted that in view of the high budget on the series and opulence of the sets, the ad space had been sold at a premium rate. 

    The show has been produced by Sphere Origins’ Sunjoy and Comall Wadhwa along with Nilanjana Purkayastha.

    Since the series is based in the 1940s, a replica of a grand palace was constructed by 300 workers in a space of 19,000 sq ft and the entire work from sketches to actual set had taken over six months.

    Sunjoy said, “The idea has been to look back at a glorious period of history for inspiration and churn out a timeless masterpiece that will entertain and enthrall TV audiences. The most daunting task at hand has been the re-creation of the pre-Independence era and the majestic lifestyles of the kings and queens of the princely states. Enormous research has gone to ensure authentic representation of the era and to create magic on screen. We have on board an ensemble of extremely impressive actors who beautifully fit the parts they are playing. The show will definitely turn out to be a clutter-breaker and hopefully, the biggest fiction show of the year.”

    Producer Wadhwa said that great effort had been made to not just create the ambience, but use the kind of apparels, jewellery, cutlery, vehicles and art work amongst other things from that era. 

    Wadhwa added that the show was set against a fascinating backdrop of the lifestyles, motivations, hopes, aspirations, insecurities and the mysteries that shroud end the Indian royalty of the 1940s.

    The show’s cast includes Siddhant Karnik and Dhrashti Dhami in title roles, Anita Raj, Surekha Sikri, National award-winning actor Darshan Zariwala, Moon Bannerjee and Akshay Anand.

    The grand palace constructed on the outskirts of Mumbai for Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani is one of the most expensive sets in the history of Indian television. The palace has a façade inspired from the famous Baroda Palace and is also, currently, the only waterproof set for a TV show.

    Additionally, the cast and crew has also shot extensively in the palaces of Rajasthan.

  • BCCC directs Sony to run apology scroll on 30 Dec

    BCCC directs Sony to run apology scroll on 30 Dec

    MUMBAI: On 17 December, the Broadcasting Content Complaint Council (BCCC) had held a meeting in Mumbai to discuss the 30 – 40 complaints received against numerous channels and what action should be taken.

    One of the biggest decisions taken from it was for Sony. The channel management has been asked by the council to run an apology scroll on 30 December. The complaint was filed with regards to the display of a board promoting abortion in Madana Khurd village during an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) aired on 19 August.

    However, sources from BCCC said that the issue was raised against the show’s producers a couple of months back on a complaint by the Haryana Health Department. As per reports, the board read “500 rupees me garbhpaat karwao aur 5 lakh ka dahej bachao (Get the abortion done in Rs 500 and save dowry of Rs 5 lakh).”

    As per the directive, the channel has to run an apology scroll in Hindi and English during now-off-air KBC’s time slot i.e. from 8.30 pm to 9 pm on 30 December.

    Of the numerous complaints, the independent council, set up by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) to examine complaints about television programmes received to ensure that the programmes are within the self-regulatory content guidelines, also discussed complaints against Zee TV amongst other networks as well.

    “One of the episodes of Zee’s popular programme Qubool Hai showed a woman being tortured and hence, a complaint was filed against it,” informs the source from the council while adding that an explanation has been asked from the channel and the decision on what should be done next will be taken on 20 January.

    Similarly, south India’s Asianet also received complaints against its two programmes out of which one was disposed off while the other’s decision will be taken on 20 January as well.

     

  • Zee TV’s ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ gives tough fight at 9 pm slot

    Zee TV’s ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ gives tough fight at 9 pm slot

    MUMBAI: Zee TV, the channel that enjoys a steady second place on the TAM TV ratings chart is riding high on success and all thanks to its properties which have seen remarkable rise in viewership. But this week, what caught attention was Balaji Telefilms’- Kumkum Bhagya.

     

    It has seen a distinct spike in viewership ever since its protagonists Pragya and rockstar Abhi tied the knot clocking in 7,405 TVTs. The episodes from pre-wedding till the two tied the knot has seen a gradual rise in viewership.

     

    According to TAM data provided by the channel, while a four-week average for the pre-wedding period (starting week 21’14 to week 24’14) stood at 3,263 TVTs, the show has seen a 127 per cent increase in viewership in the last six weeks.

     

    So what has caught the attention of the viewers? Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi believes that the ‘wedding track’ was a very important inflection point for people to gravitate to the series. He believes it is growing in terms of interest in all parameters.

     

    “The focus was on how fate can sometimes bring two very dissimilar individuals together. Then it is about how the relationship will take form and how they will conform to the institution of marriage as per our culture.”

     

    Kumkum Bhagya saw a surge in audience interest during the rather unlikely marriage of its protagonists – the flamboyant rockstar Abhi and the shy, serious girl-next door Pragya. The channel feels that due to its engrossing storyline coupled with believable performances, the show has been on a steady ascent, despite stiff competition at its time slot across GECs.

     

    Aired at 9 pm it picked a fight with slot leader Diya Aur Baati Hum (Star Plus) across Hindi GECs and has managed to grow exponentially. As per TAM, the show’s viewership has dropped by 22 per cent since week 16, when Kumkum Bhagya was launched. In the week 30, Diya Aur Baati Hum garnered 10,379 TVTs, down from 10,488 TVTs.

     

    Hejmadi believes that research forms an integral part during such competitive slots. Each show goes through a development process on how one would want to deal with a plot or the character.

     

    “Each story has its own promise and people who tune in are people who are bought into those promises or are keen to explore the relationships or the characters that stand out speaking to them. We concentrated on bringing out the key inflection points for the show and it was important because it is the core promise of KumKum Bhagya,” he says.

     

    At the marketing front, Hejmadi said that for any channel, marketing is the mix of two things – the on-air promotion on the network as well as promotion on other networks as additional activation.

     

    The show was heavily promoted through an aggressive 360 degree marketing campaign by the channel from the launch to the wedding highpoint to ensure traction kept growing week on week.

     

    Zee TV’s approach was one of sustained character building in all its communication across print, on-air and digital media. A judicious mix of mediums including high impact outdoors, print and innovatively crafted, personalised invites shared through social media on the day of the wedding created high visibility.

     

    The streamlined promotional strategy not only attracted eyeballs but also garnered a lot of word- of-mouth publicity, thereby creating an enormous buzz around the much touted wedding sequence.

     

    Hejmadi is confident that the series will continue to have the same kind of engagement level with the audiences. He goes on to say that in the fiction genre there are key points which mark the opportunity for an audience to start engagement. The channel has identified those key engagement points and will continue to focus on its other offerings as well.

     

    He believes that the ratings game is like running a marathon. But, with robust properties such as Kumkum Bhagya, Jodha Akbar and Qubool Hai ruling the roost, Zee TV is the only channel that has seen a 30 per cent increase in its weekday primetime viewership in the last six weeks.

  • Axe the tax, say DTH ops & MSOs

    Axe the tax, say DTH ops & MSOs

    MUMBAI: In the run up to Budget 2014, the DTH Operators Association and the MSO Alliance have joined hands with broadcasters to embark on an aggressive campaign (in the shape of a television promo or commercials)  to fight the heavy entertainment taxes levied on them by the various state governments.

     

    The TV commercial which stars Roopal Tyagi (Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke) and Surbhi Jyoti (Qubool Hai) has been running across all channels.  It makes an appeal to TV viewers to log on to http://entertainmenttaxappeal.com to pledge against rising entertainment taxes. It says that on an average a viewer spends approximately Rs 3000 on cable TV and DTH recharges annually. Almost half of this goes directly into the government’s kitty by way of taxes. Therefore, there is a need to put an end to it.

     

    “We will present the appeals from the people to the government and hope that they take note of it,” says newly-appointed DTH Operators Association of India president RC Venkateish. He added that the advertisement was timed to coincide with the upcoming budget session. 

     

    Entertainment tax is a state subject and hence, varies from state to state. In some, it is a fixed amount while in others the state exchequer carves it out as a percentage of the bill. 

     

     “The state of Maharashtra charges Rs 45 as entrainment tax. This is ridiculously high,” says an industry professional and adds, “High entertainment tax is one of the reasons why local operators don’t declare the number of viewers they have.”

     

    The campaign is expected to run for a month in order to build a ground swell of public opinion against the entertainment tax levies.  It seems to have got the Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar’s attention already. Speaking to PTI recently he assured industry that “the government is looking into the demands of the DTH operators and that the issue is with the Ministry of Finance.”

     

    “Industry has high hopes in the new Modi-led government. For several years, it has been appealing to the previous government to reduce the burden but to no avail.  High and multiple taxes have been crippling. Hopefully, the government will find a solution to this problems,” says a media observer. 

     

    It’s now over to Mr Arun Jaitley. 

     

    Click here to watch the commercial

  • Raqesh Vashisth to step into Karan Singh Grover’s shoes

    Raqesh Vashisth to step into Karan Singh Grover’s shoes

    MUMBAI: In a new twist to the ‘Qubool Hai’ story, Zee TV has picked Raqesh Vashisth to play the lead of Asad in Qubool Hai. He will be replacing Karan Singh Grover who was dropped by the channel because of his unprofessional behavior and lack of commitment towards the show.

    The creative team had a tough time dealing with Grover’s nonchalant and indifferent attitude and decided to replace him with immediate effect.

    The production house 4 Lions and the channel unanimously selected Vashisth as the lead opposite Zoya (Surbhi Jyoti) in the TV show.

    The producers believe that Raqesh is a good fit. They issued a statement saying that, “Raqesh is handsome, good-looking and he looks amazing with Zoya. The best and most important part is that he is known in the industry for his professionalism. We’re glad that he has agreed to come on board.”

    Vashisth will start shooting for the show soon and will be seen as Asad from the beginning of the New Year.

  • TAM week 42: Zee packs a punch, now at No 2

    TAM week 42: Zee packs a punch, now at No 2

    MUMBAI: In week 42 of the TAM TV ratings, Zee TV props up to number two position with 409,304 GVTs (406,987), whereas Colors sheds and moves down to number three with 384,496 GVTs (407,337).

     

    With a huge rise, Star Plus continues to be the GEC leader with 517,048 GVTs (464,989).  Sab,which was at number six position last week, notched up with 319,214 GVTs (291,781) going back to number four. Life OK ranks fifth this week with 316,904 GVTs (344,750). Sony goes back to six once again with 292,327 GVTs (313,411). Sahara One continues to be at the bottom of the chart with 32,081 GVTs (33,705).

     

    Coming back to the chart topper, Star Plus’s fiction shows have seen a good amount viewership. Thus, its popular show Diya aur Baati Hum scored 9,981 TVTs (9,243), Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai reported 6,819 TVTs (6,032), Pyar Ka Dard Hai generated 6,878 TVTs (6,250) and Saathiya registered 7,007 TVTs (6,314). Epic series Mahabharat too witnessed a rise and scored 4,815 TVTs (4,523). On 20 October, the channel aired Hindi feature film Bhag Milkha Bhag 4,702 TVTs.

     

    Second placed, Zee TV’s fictional offering Qubool Hai witnessed a drop and scored 5,412 TVTs (5,676). Pavitra Rishta generated 4,736 TVTs (4,196). Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke secured 4,660 TVTs (5,085). The channel’s historical show Jodha Akbar noted 8,551 TVTs (8,777). Drama series Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se registered 4,726 TVTs (5,104). On 19 October, its dance reality DID – Dance ka Tashan aired its finale taking its tally to 4,572 TVTs.

     

    Third placed, Colors long running fiction series Balika Vadhu saw a drop in its ratings and marked 5,767 TVTs (6,624), Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon scored 4,230 TVTs (4,157) and Uttaran reported 3,663 TVTs (3,252). Comedy Nights with Kapil lost its viewership and registered 5,228 TVTs (6,518). Much hyped reality show 24 witnessed a slight rise and scored 2,776 TVTs (2,625).

     

    Fourth placed, Sab’s fiction show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah continues to be the channel leader with 7,224 TVTs (6,945). Chidiya Ghar saw a rise and rated 3,386 TVTs (3,096). Lapataganj reported 2,189 TVTs (2,090) and Baalveer registered 2,750 TVTs (2,600). It was a roller-coaster ride for other fictional shows as well.

     

    Fifth placed, Life OK’s top mythological series Mahadev scored 3,316 TVTs (3,416). Do Dil Ek Jaan stood at 1,711 (1,669), Savdhan India rated 2,563 TVTs (2,566). Shapath generated 3,460 TVTs (3,470). Ek Boond Ishq noted 2,673 TVTs (2,551).

     

    Sixth placed, Sony’s long running crime series CID witnessed a drop and recorded 3,229 TVTs (5,292), Crime Petrol too saw a drop and registered 2,940 TVTs (3,423). The channel’s historical show Maharana Pratap generated 2,680 TVTs (2,772). KBC garnered 3,796 TVTs (3,960). New reality series The Bachelorette India stood at 1,875 TVTs (1,888). Other fiction shows either held on to their viewership or dipped marginally during the week.

     

    In the movie channel genre, Zee Cinema reported 205,828 GVTs (196,371); Star Gold witnessed a fall and registered 179,697 GVTs (192,339) and Movies OK scored 116,200 GVTs (115,017). On the other hand, &pictures garnered 64,687 GVTs (62,839), Zee Anmol notched up and rated 52,080 GVTs (47,173) and Max scored 199,906 GVTs (177,170).

    Let’s see what’s in store for the channels in the coming weeks.

  • Colors and Zee TV: close fight for no 2

    Colors and Zee TV: close fight for no 2

    MUMBAI: In week 41 of TAM TV ratings, all the Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) have seen a drop in their ratings. What was interesting though, was the close fight between Colors and Zee TV for the number two position in the TV ranking. Colors, won the race, with a slight margin, to claim its number two position with 407,337 GVTs after it shed 68,726 TVTs from last week’s rating. Not so far is Zee TV that recorded 406,987 GVTs (415,793).

     

    Star Plus continues to lead the panel with 464,989 GVTs (501,683). At number four is Life OK that maintains its stability with 344,750 (347,291) GVTs. Sony Entertainment Television ranks fifth this week with 313,411 GVTs (323,337). Sab goes to number six with 291,781 GVTs (317,170). Sahara one continues to be at the bottom with 33,705 GVTs (33,222).

     

    Star Plus, the chart topper, has seen a drop in the ratings for all its fiction shows. Thus, its popular show Diya aur Baati Hum scored 9,243 TVTs (9,911), Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai scored 6,032 TVTs (7,614), Pyar Ka Dard Hai reported 6,250 TVTs (7,708) and Saathiya registered 6,314 TVTs (7,237). Epic series Mahabharat too witnessed a drop in its fourth week and scored 4,523 TVTs (4,909).

     

    Second placed, Colors’ long running fiction series Balika Vadhu saw a slight drop in its ratings and marked 6,624 TVTs (6,759), Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon scored 4,157 TVTs (4,519) and Uttaran reported 3,252 TVTs (4,056). Comedy Nights with Kapil reported 6,518 TVTs (4,462). Much hyped reality show 24, too saw a drop and scored 2,625 TVTs (3,134).

     

    Third placed, Zee TV’s fictional offering Qubool Hai witnessed a drop and scored 5,676 TVTs (6,003). Pavitra Rishta generated 4,196 TVTs (4,646). Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke secured 5,085 TVTs (6,490). The channel’s historical show Jodha Akbar noted 8,777 TVTs (9,337). Drama series Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se registered 5,104 TVTs (5,696). Its dance reality DID – Dance ka Tashan took its tally to 3,172 TVTs (3,870) on a Saturday and 3,056 TVTs (3,707) on a Sunday.
    Fourth placed, Life OK’s top mythological series Mahadev scored 3,416 TVTs (4,009). Do Dil Ek Jaan stood at 1,669 TVTs (1,884), Savdhan India rated 2,566 TVTs (2,479). Shapath generated 3,470 TVTs (3,637). Ek Boond Ishq noted 2,551 TVTs (2,635).

     

    Fifth placed, Sony’s long running crime series CID witnessed a drop and recorded 5,292 TVTs (7,048), Crime Petrol too saw a drop and registered 3,423 TVTs (3,882). The channel’s historical show Maharana Pratap generated 2,772 TVTs (3,057). KBC has maintained its score and garnered 3,960 TVTs (3,911). Other fiction shows either held on to their viewership or dipped marginally during the week.

    Sixth placed, Sab’s fiction show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah continues to be the channel leader with 6,945 TVTs (8,485). Chidiya Ghar saw a drop as it rated 3,096 TVTs (3,817). Lapataganj reported 2,090 TVTs (2,380) and Baalveer registered 2,600 TVTs (2,925). It was a roller-coaster ride for other fictional shows as well.

     

    In the movie channel genre, Zee Cinema reported 196,371 GVTs (198,401); Star Gold witnessed a rise taking its tally to 192,339 GVTs (174,671) and Movies OK scored 115,017 GVTs (126,462). On the other hand, &pictures garnered 62,839 GVTs (61,530), Zee Anmol notched up and rated 47,173 GVTs (38,080) and Max scored 177,170 GVTs (220,318).

    Seems like the festive season has not proved too fruitful for the channels! We wonder if Navratri has eaten away on the TVTs.