ITV

Tag: Rajat Sharma

  • BARC week 25: ABP News back in combined urban & rural top 5 list

    BARC week 25: ABP News back in combined urban & rural top 5 list

    BENGALURU: The ABP Group’s Hindi news channel ABP News made a reappearance in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels in the combined urban (U) and rural (R) Hindi speaking market or HSM (U+R) in week 25 of 2019 (Saturday, 15 June 2019 to Friday, 21 June 2019, week or period under review). The channel was last present in the HSM (U+R) list in week 22 of 2019. ABP news also re-appeared in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 news channels in HSM (U) at fifth rank. In both the cases – HSM (U+R) and HSM (U), the entry of ABP News in BARC’s weekly lists of top 5 Hindi news channels resulted in the exit of Republic Bharat from them. Further Zee News re-entered the HSM (R) list during the week under review.

    BARC’s treatment of the landing page and outliers since week 23 of 2019 as well as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Cup 2019 in England & Wales continued to impact viewership ratings of Hindi news channels. The timings of the ongoing cricket tourney overlap primetime of most channels, including Hindi news channels. The combined viewership of the top 5 Hindi news channels which had dropped in week 24, plunged even further to a new nadir in individual HSM (U) and HSM (R) as well as the combined HSM (U+R) during week 25 of 2019.

    Hindi news in HSM (U+R)

    Aaj Tak retained its numero uno position in HSM (U+R) in week 25 of 2019 with 112.678 million weekly impressions as compared to 115.088 million weekly impressions in week 24. Also, continuing at second rank was News18 India with 85.899 million weekly impressions in week 25 as compared to 93.594 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2019.

    At third rank was India TV with 84.554 million weekly impressions in week 25 of 2019 as compared to third rank and 87.293 million weekly impressions in week 24. Zee News climbed up one place to fourth rank in HSM (U+R) in week 25 of 2019 with 82.955 million weekly impressions as compared to rank 5 and 80.790 million weekly impressions in the previous week. As mentioned above, ABP News entered the HSM (U+R) list in week 25 of 2019 with 77.011 million weekly impressions.

    Hindi news in HSM (R)

    In HSM (R) also, Aaj Tak retained first rank with 48.518 million weekly impressions in week 25 0f 2019 as compared to 49.718 million weekly impressions in the previous week. ABP News held onto its second spot in HSM (R) in week 25 of 2019 with 35.559 million weekly impressions as compared to 35.906 million weekly impressions in week 24.

    India TV jumped up two ranks to third place in week 25 of 2019 in HSM (R) with 31.897 million weekly impressions as compared to fifth rank and 33.370 million weekly impressions in week 24. As mentioned above, Zee News re-entered BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels in week 25 of 2019 at fourth rank with 31.053 million weekly impressions. Completing the quintet in HSM (R) at rank was Republic Bharat in week 25 of 2019 with 30.818 million weekly impressions as compared to 34.764 million weekly impressions and rank three in week 24.

    Hindi news in HSM (U)

    In the case of BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels also, Aaj Tak retained first rank with 64.160 million weekly impressions in week 25 of 2019 with 64.160 million weekly impressions as compared to 65.370 million weekly impressions in week 24. Also retaining its previous week’s second rank was News18 India in HSM (U) in week 25 of 2019 was News19 India with 55.102 million weekly impressions as compared to 59.873 million weekly impressions in the previous week.

    India TV also retained its third rank in week 25 of 2019 in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U) with 52.657 million weekly impressions as compared to 53.913 million weekly impressions in week 24. Continuing on at rank 4 in week 25 of 2019 in HSM (U) was Zee News with 51.902 million weekly impressions as compared to 50.028 million weekly impressions in week 24. ABP News re-entered the HSM (U) list week 25 of 2019 with 41.452 million weekly impressions.

  • BARC week 24: Hindi news ratings plunge further

    BARC week 24: Hindi news ratings plunge further

    BENGALURU: Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) sum of weekly ratings of top 5 Hindi news channels across the Hindi speaking urban – HSM (U) and rural – HSM (R) as well as the combined HSM (U+R) were lowest ever in week 24 of 2019 (Saturday, 8 June 2019 to Friday, 14 June 2019, week or period under review). BARC recommenced publishing of data in the public domain in week 13 of 2019 after a hiatus of seven weeks to allow ratings to stabilise after implementation of TRAI’s new tariff order, and the ratings for week 24 were the lowest ever since then.

    The sum of weekly impressions of the top 5 Hindi news channels was 457.884 million weekly impressions in HSM (U+R); 187.489 million weekly impressions in HSM (R); and 275.549 million weekly impressions in HSM (U). Comparatively, the 11 week average (between weeks 13 and 23 of 2019) of the sum of weekly impressions of the top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U+R) was 653.192 million; in HSM (R) it was 288.937 million and in HSM (U) it was 367.834 million.

    Of the reasons that this drop could be attributed to is BARC having reverted to the earlier process of treatment of landing page beginning with week 23.  Added to this is the fact that the timings of the ongoing cricket tourney by the ICC World Cup 2019 in England and Wales overlap primetime of most channels, including Hindi news, could have affected viewership ratings. Many in the industry feel that BARC reverting to the old treatment of landing pages and filtering out data from outliers is better.

    There was no change in the list of channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) except for shuffling of ranks. In the case of HSM (R), India TV re-entered BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi news channels. Living Media (India Today Group) flagship Hindi news channel Aaj Tak continued its supremacy at rank 1 of the Hindi news genre in urban, rural as well as combined urban and rural markets. Aaj Tak was the only channel among the top 5 that saw ratings in week 24 of 2019 climb as compared to week 23.

    HSM (U+R)

    With 115.088 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2019, Aaj Tak led BARC’s weekly list of top Hindi news channels as compared to 110.763 million weekly impressions. Continuing on at second rank was Network18’s News18 India with 93.574 million weekly impressions in the week under review as compared to 97.484 million weekly impressions in the previous week.

    Climbing up a place to third rank in week 24 of 2019 was Rajat Sharma and Ritu Dhawan’s India TV with 87.283 million weekly impressions as compared to fourth rank and 88.807 million weekly impressions in week 23. Dropping a rank to fourth place in week 24 of 2019 was ARG Outlier Media’s Republic Bharat with 81.129 million weekly impressions as compared to third rank and 90.570 million weekly impressions in week 23. At fifth rank in week 24 of 2019 was Zee Media’s Zee News with 80.790 million weekly impressions as compared to 88.617 million weekly impressions in the preceding week.

    HSM (R)

    At rank one in HSM (R), Aaj Tak garnered 49.718 million weekly impressions in the Hindi speaking rural market in week 24 of 2019 as compared to 50.815 million weekly impressions in week 23. Climbing up a place to second rank was the erstwhile Ananda Bazar Patrika’s ABP News in week 24 of 2019 with 35.906 million weekly impressions as compared to third rank and 38.881 million weekly impressions in the previous week.

    Dropping a rank to third place in HSM (R) during the week under review as Republic Bharat with 34.764 million weekly impressions as compared to second rank and 40.454 million weekly impressions in week 23. News18 India also climbed a place to fourth rank in HSM (R) with 33.721 million weekly impressions as compared to fifth rank and 34.771 million weekly impressions. Re-entering BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels list for HSM (R) was India TV with 33.370 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2019.

    HSM (U)

    Aaj Tak regained its first place in the urban Hindi speaking market in week 24 of 2019 with 65.370 million weekly impressions as compared to second rank and 59.948 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Dropping a place to second rank was News18 India with 59.873 million weekly impressions as compared to first rank and 62.713 million weekly impressions in week 23.

    India TV retained rank three in week 24 of 2019 with 53.913 million weekly impressions as compared to 54.765 million weekly impressions in week 23. Also retaining its previous week’s fourth rank was Zee News with 50.028 million weekly impressions as compared to 53.451 million weekly impressions in week 23. Completing the quintet in HSM (U) was Republic Bharat in week 24 of 2019 at its previous week’s rank 5 with 46.365 million weekly impressions as compared to 50.116 million weekly impressions.

  • India TV appoints Jayanta Ghoshal as political editor

    India TV appoints Jayanta Ghoshal as political editor

    MUMBAI: India TV has appointed political journalist Jayanta Ghoshal as its political editor, while Prafulla Kumar Mishra has joined as editor, guest relations and coordination.

    Jayanta Ghoshal has over 35 years experience in political reporting. He started his career as a staff reporter in the Bengali daily Bartaman in 1984 and rose up to the position of National Political Bureau Chief.  He joined Ananda Bazar Patrika group as editor, Delhi in 2002 and worked there till last month.

    India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma said, "We are proud to have an experienced political journalist like Jayanta Ghoshal in our news channel. I know Jayanta personally since the last several decades and I respect his acumen. I look forward to working with him, particularly since the Lok Sabha elections are on the horizon."

    As an experienced political journalist, Ghoshal has closely observed the working of successive governments at the Centre and in West Bengal. He was instrumental in guiding the fledgling Bengali daily newspaper Bartaman to Number 2 position, a spot it still holds.

    Prafulla Kumar Mishra has 18 years' experience in TV journalism. He started his career in Sahara Samay, and worked in Zee News, DD News and Times Now as Chief Programme Coordinator.

    Ghoshal broke several exclusive stories that included preparations for Pokharan-II nuclear tests in 1998, and Raghuram Rajan going to resign as RBI Governor in 2016. He interviewed both the prime ministerial candidates, Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi during the 2014 general elections.

    India TV MD and CEO Ritu Dhawan said, "These new appointments indicate the fresh ground India TV is going to break in its endeavor to become the pioneer of top quality news content. I wish both Ghoshal and Mishra the best in their new roles."

  • Delhi HC orders Zee Hindustan to stop using Rajat Sharma’s name in ads

    Delhi HC orders Zee Hindustan to stop using Rajat Sharma’s name in ads

    MUMBAI: Delhi HC has restrained Zee Hindustan from using the name of India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma in any of its advertisements, stating that its latest ad campaign is prima facie illegal. It has directed the channel to remove any hoardings or ads that use Rajat’s name.

    Zee Hindustan, to promote its anchorless news channel, had started an advertisement campaign that made reference to some of the popular news anchors including Sharma and Republic’s Arnab Goswami using slogans like “India mein ab Rajat ki Adalat band!” (Rajat’s Adalat is now shut in India!), and “Ab Anchor nahin khabarein khud bolengi, Kyunki aap samjhdaar hain” (Since you are intelligent, news would speak for itself, without any news anchor).

    Sharma and his channel India TV filed a suit for an injunction against Zee,  claiming that the advertisement is being used to deliberately and maliciously misrepresent and disparage the image of India TV and Rajat Sharma, who has been running the show Aap Ki Adalat on different channels since 1993.

    Justice Jayant Nath of Delhi High Court impugned the advertisement saying, “The Hon’ble Court while granting the injunction in favour of Sharma and India TV, refrained Zee from using Rajat Sharma’s name in their advertisements in the electronic and print media or in any other form. The Hon’ble Court has further directed Zee to take down all hoardings containing the impugned advertisements.”

  • IBF rejigs board; appoints VPs to steer key objectives

    IBF rejigs board; appoints VPs to steer key objectives

    MUMBAI: The board of directors of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has unanimously appointed Siddharth Jain, Rajat Sharma, Sudhanshu Vats and K Madhavan as the vice-presidents to broadbase and liaise with the government and other stakeholders for the sectoral growth.

    Turner International India Pvt Ltd South Asia SVP and MD Siddharth Jain will be the VP for distribution. India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma shall oversee government affairs in his role as the VP of the foundation. Viacom18 group CEO Sudhanshu Vats would be VP—audience measurement and Asianet communications MD K Madhavan will be spearheading the regional affairs portfolio.

    India Today Group chairman and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie shall continue as the treasurer of the foundation till the next AGM.

    In the 19th annual general meeting of IBF held on 31 August 2018, the members unanimously elected Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi S Vempati to the board of directors of IBF. His inclusion in the board will strengthen the foundation technologically considering his prior experience in the IT sector.

    With the inclusion of ABP News Networks COO Avinash Pandey, The Walt Disney Co- South Asia EVP and MD Mahesh Samat, Malayalam Communications Ltd MD and editor-in-chief John Brittas as co-opted directors on the board of the foundation, IBF is geared up to meet the sectoral challenges.

  • NBA writes to Kerala CM following FIR against Mathrubhumi News

    NBA writes to Kerala CM following FIR against Mathrubhumi News

    MUMBAI: The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has come out in support of Malayalam news channel Mathrubhumi News that has been dragged into a controversy regarding a news item it aired on 7 June.

    Recently, a case was registered against the deputy editor Venu Balakrishnan and the anchor of the show Super Prime Time for initiating a discussion regarding the torture of a young Muslim by the police and the ruckus in the state assembly following police atrocities.

    The FIR was filed following a complaint filed by local leaders of DYFI, the youth wing of the ruling CPI (M), under Section 153 A of IPC.

    NBA president Rajat Sharma shot off a letter to Kerala chief minister stating, “It is understood that the opening sentences of the anchor’s comment was taken out of context and a case foisted against him. While the NBA maintains that no individual or institution is above the law, it condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and causing any interference in the free functioning of news operations.”

    NBA considers that police action against the anchor, based on the FIR is unacceptable and an attack on the freedom of the press. “We request you and the state administration to ensure that journalists and media persons are allowed to perform their duties in a free and fearless manner. Such a move also undermines the basic tenets of free speech enshrined in the constitution of India,” Sharma added.

    He also added that the media provides a service that is essential for any democratic society and keeps the public informed and hence must be protected by the law enforcing agencies.

  • Rajat Sharma is the new boss of DDCA

    Rajat Sharma is the new boss of DDCA

    MUMBAI: Rajat Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV is the new boss of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). He bagged 54.4 per cent of votes in his favour on 2 July 2018.

    Sharma got a total of 1521 votes, 517 more than former test cricketer Madan Lal, who could only poll 1004 votes. The third candidate in the fray, advocate Vikas Singh, got 232 votes only.

    Sharma’s group swept the elections winning all 12 seats to become the president.

    For vice-presidential post, Rakesh Bansal, younger brother of former DDCA president Sneh Bansal bagged 1364 votes beating BCCI acting president CK Khanna’s wife Shashi by 278 votes. Shashi won 1086 votes in the VP elections. The defeat might prove to be the end of the road for Khanna in DDCA, where he enjoyed supreme power for nearly three decades.

    Sharma and his panel’s candidature was backed by a political heavyweight from the ruling party with the IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra throwing in all his might. Batra incidentally is a former DDCA treasurer.

    “The moment Sharma got blessings from a senior cabinet minister, there was no chance in hell for any other candidate to win this election. What was not expected was a clean panel sweep. It will be good that Sharma will get a free hand to run the body. This also means that CK Khanna’s reign in DDCA ends unless he strikes some deal with Sharma,” a senior DDCA official told PTI as quoted by Insidesports.co.

    With DDCA being the first among equals to go into elections after the Supreme Court appointed Lodha Committee suggested path-breaking structural reforms, the polling also witnessed abolition of proxy system with nearly 3000 voters turning up to cast their vote.

    Among the other notable winners was former sports committee head Vinod Tihara, (1374 votes) who became secretary defeating nearest rival Manjeet Singh (998) by 376 votes.

    The joint secretary’s post went to Rajan Manchanda (1402), younger brother of former treasurer Ravinder, who beat Pushpender Chauhan (953) by 449 votes. Pushpender is the younger brother of Chetan Chauhan.

    For treasurer’s post, Om Prakash Sharma beat Deepak Singh by 1241 to 891 votes.

    Coach Sanjay Bhardwaj was elected for the director’s post (first-class cricketer) while Renu Khanna became the woman director.

    Notable among other directors were Apruv Jain, son of former media manager Ravi Jain, who polled 1286 votes, Alok Mittal, Nitin Gupta, Shiv Nandan Sharma and Nitin Agarwal.

  • Hindi news channels alter programming for Gujarat elections

    Hindi news channels alter programming for Gujarat elections

    MUMBAI: With the Gujarat elections on the horizon, the central government has made several populist moves including the cut in GST on many products and services. Hindi news channels have rearranged their programming line-up for the upcoming assembly elections, which will be held in two phases—9 December and 14 December 2017.

    The results will be announced on 18 December 2017. In the frenzy to cover this event, news channels are leaving no stone unturned to grab eyeballs.

    iTV Network, one of India’s media houses, has expanded further into the regional news space with the launch of a dedicated channel for Gujarat called India News Gujarat on 4 December 2017 with six regional channels in its bouquet. Being launched ahead of the highly-anticipated Gujarat Elections, 2017, the Gujarat Debate will be a programme to watch out for. 

    iTV editor-in-chief Deepak Chaurasia told Indiantelevision.com, “We are covering the elections from different aspects of it like debate, day-to-day updates, rallies, special interviews with around 40 senior correspondents. The new shows are Kissa Kursi Ka, a live debate show and at 8 and 10 pm everyday we have a special bulletin on elections.”

    ABP News has started Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri which will focus on the Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections from the audience’s perspective and a review of the political parties’ agenda. The show will be telecast twice a day at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm. On 9 December 2017 the show will start from 6am and will go on till 2pm. In another show Poll Khol, the anchor will present the latest updates surrounding the upcoming elections in various regions of India. The show will run for 30 minutes from 7:30pm.

    India TV’s flagship election mega conclave Chunav Manch in its second edition at Ahmedabad saw an enviable line-up of participants both from the ruling as well as the opposition benches.

    In his welcome address, Rajat Sharma outlined the performance of the ruling regime, their pre-poll promises, people’s expectations, Prime Minister’s Modi’s undaunting image etc. He also highlighted the opposition’s charges ranging from rising unrest among the business class to unemployment issues to questioning the Gujarat model of development.

    India TV Managing Director Ritu Dhawan said, “We are happy because of the huge success of the initiative. But what makes us happier is that we were able to generate top-notch participation and we had a full-house throughout the day. This is especially when we were aware that our competition has been struggling to get in and keeping the audiences at their respective venues.”

    A few amongst those who participated in different sessions were, BJP President Amit Shah, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel, BJP National Spokesman Sambit Patra, BJP MP Kirit Solanki, BJP Leader Jitu Vaghani, Ex Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela, PAAS Leader Hardik Patel, Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly, Arjun Modhwadia, Congress Leaders Sanjay Nirupam and Randeep Singh Surjewala.

    Aaj Tak managing editor Supriya Prasad said, “For the elections, we are doing a debate show called Raj Tilak at 15 places. We have deputed around 24 reporters for the coverage of this elections.Gujarat ka Sardar Kaun is the show in which political experts discuss the Gujarat legislative assembly elections, and is aired everyday at4:30 pm.”

    NDTV India is very innovatively used the show’s tagline as ‘Abki Baar Kiski Sarkar’ which sheds light on political parties and the candidates vying for the top posts in the current election.

  • Chunav Manch: Rajat Sharma grills leaders in novel formats

    Chunav Manch: Rajat Sharma grills leaders in novel formats

    MUMBAI: The huge anticipation and the promise came true when India TV’s Flagship Election Mega-Conclave Chunav Manch in its Gujarat edition came out notches above of its contemporaries. The channel attracted unprecedented applause from both the participants and the delegates for the scale of implementation and the level of participation.

    Super-charged participation from across the spectrum, along with India TV Anchors led by Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma himself and quite literally grilling the topmost political leaders in various novel formats was almost like a feast for the avid political watchers and the India TV viewers alike. Interrogating overtones from equally capable audience during interactive segments acted as a multiplier adding numerous layers of exhilaration.

    None but all, starting from The Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani to Deputy CM Nitin Patel to BJP Chief Amit Shah opened up on issues related to Gujarat Elections & beyond. Other heavyweights include Ex-CM Shankar Sinh Vaghela, Congress Leader Arjun Modhwadia, Senior NCP Leader Prafful Patel and Senior Congress Leader Randeep Surjewala.

    While the political feast for the viewers continued, Young Political Activists Jignesh Mevani, Alpesh Thakor and Hardik Patel, BJP Leader Jai Narayan Vyas, Congress Leader Shakti Singh Gohil, Gujarat Ministers Ganpatsinh Vasava & Shankar Chaudhary, State BJP Leaders Pradipsinh Jadeja and Jitu Vaghani, State Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki and Businessman Zafar Sareshwala spiced up their respective sessions with heated debates.

    Expressing satisfaction, India TV MD Ritu Dhawan observed, “We were always sure of the top notch execution, however, while we landed at Ahmedabad we were a bit thoughtful on the participation front. This was because we noticed quite a few empty seats during a similar effort, by our immediate competition a day ago. Thankfully, our effort turned out to be a House full success with enviable participation & a Full-House.”

    “Being able to keep our audience happy with quality content, however is our biggest success.” she added.

  • India TV announces key elevations in editorial leadership

    India TV announces key elevations in editorial leadership

    MUMBAI: It’s a celebration time in India TV office as the chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma has announced key elevations and appointments in editorial leadership.

    The senior executive editor Piyush Padmakar has been elevated to the position of managing editor – news. He will head news and editorial and shall also be responsible for input and output, daily planning, programming and promotions.

    Along with him, the assistant managing editor Anita Sharma has been elevated to the position of managing editor – news operations. She will be heading all newsroom manpower and operations, response, archives and co-ordination with all other departments. And, the senior executive editor Amrendra Pratap Singh has also been elevated as managing editor. He will be heading the new project.

    Sharma stated, “I am extremely pleased to announce this young, energetic and truly aggressive team to lead the editorial function. With this new team in place, I feel very confident that the channel and the company continues to follow its aggressive growth path.”

    In other key elevations, Sachin Sahay has been made the editor – output. He will now be responsible for news output and feeds with additional responsibility of training.

    Pranay Yadav, who has been elevated as editor-political, will now head Aaj Ki Baat as the editor and producer. He will also be additionally responsible for reporting based special shows.

    As a key new appointment, Utpal Chaudhry, who has moved in from ABP News, has been appointed as the editor – input. He will head news input and shall be responsible for daily planning and news reporting, interaction with bureaus and ideas. Surender Gumber has been elevated as the editor – assignment who will now head the assignment department, news gathering and logistics.