Tag: Rajiv Lulla

NDTV plans to launch MetroNation Chennai in April

NEW DELHI: NDTV is readying for the launch of MetroNation Chennai in April while cutting costs in MetroNation Delhi to keep losses in check amid an economic downturn.

Jennifer Arul is the managing editor of the channel. “We have already hired about 100 people and will be launching MetroNation Chennai in April,” says NDTV MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla.

As reported first in Indiantelevision.com, NDTV will launch the Chennai city-centric channel through a joint venture company with the Hindu Group where it will hold 51 per cent stake.

So what led to the delay when the channel was supposed to launch last year? “There were licence issues and it took us time arranging for everything,” says Lulla.

Meanwhile, NDTV has scaled down the operations of MetroNation Delhi by axing jobs and reducing fresh programming on the city-specific channel for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The channel has converted its mobile studio, ‘The Metronation Bus,’ into a mobile election studio to be used by the two sister news channels, NDTV 24X7 and NDTV India.

“MetroNation is a resilient and nimble channel. We are cutting costs and will hire people when the time is right,” says Lulla.

March 27, 2009
NDTV denies rumours of MetroNation shutdown

NEW DELHI: Speculation has been doing the rounds that NDTV might bring the shutter down on its city centric news channel MetroNation, which is currently operational in Delhi. However, the media company has cleared the air saying, that there is no question of a shutdown, rather it will go ahead with its planned launch of its MetroNation Chennai though a date has not been fixed yet.

Speaking to indiantelevision.com NDTV MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla said, “We know there are lots of rumours doing the rounds with regards to MetroNation, but we are not going to close down the channel. Also our plan to launch the channel in Chennai is very much in progress. We have already hired about 90 people down south. However, we have not fixed the date for launching the channel yet.”

NDTV has partnered with Kasturi & Sons Ltd, publisher of The Hindu to launch MetroNation Chennai.

Kastrui & Sons managing director N. Murali added, “We will definitely launch the channel, but we are yet to decide the timing.”

Earlier in August, 2008, Lulla had told indiantelevision.com that the NDTV Group will roll out the channel in Chennai by October-end followed by the launch of MetroNation Mumbai by end fiscal 2008-09.

And while, NDTV Group is rationalising costs, the media company has not handed pink slips to its MetroNation employees in and continues to produce programming. Explained Lulla: “At this time of recession like every other company, we are also trying to control our costs as best as we can. But we have not cut any jobs as of now. Also the channel has fresh content on air till date.”

MetroNation Delhi has about 165 employees at the moment.

January 28, 2009
NDTV MetroNation completes one year

MUMBAI: NDTV Network’s city centric English news channel NDTV MetroNation has completed one year.

NDTV MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla said, “Local content is increasingly becoming more important for television audiences worldwide as well as in India as it focuses on news that touch people’s lives directly. NDTV MetroNation has been successfully able to capture the imagination of Delhi and NCR and become a reference point for Delhiites.”

The news channel shows all genres of programmes covering metro life- news and current affairs, lifestyle, entertainment and youth buzz. Some of the shows include The Great Aunty Cookoff, Fight For Your Rights, Let’s Go, Delhi, Feeding Frenzy, U Special, Super Shopper and We Speak Like This.

NDTV MetroNation is currently running a campaign against bad roads which will highlight civic issues in the city and the fight for it to be fixed, as part of channel’s extensive coverage of the forthcoming elections.

September 30, 2008
NDTV MetroNation plans to launch in Chennai by October-end

NEW DELHI: After launching MetroNation in Delhi last September, NDTV Group plans to launch the city-specific channel in Chennai by October-end.

The next launch will be in Mumbai by the end of the fiscal. Says MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla, “As far as entering more markets is concerned, MetroNation will be launched in Chennai first by the end of October. The channel will be launched in Mumbai by the end of this fiscal. The subsequent launches will depend on the needs of the market.”

Lulla’s focus will be to expand the reach of the channel and tap advertisers. “I will not be changing the programmes of the channel. I will be working towards strengthening our relationship with advertisers. Then my job will be to expand the distribution to make sure that the channel is widely available. The thrust will also be on marketing the channel,” says Lulla.

However, Lulla did not give out the investment plans. “It would be inappropriate to comment on the investments, as it would depend on the markets we enter,” he adds.

August 4, 2008
Rajiv Lulla is NDTV MetroNation CEO

NEW DELHI: NDTV has appointed Rajiv Lulla as the CEO of its city channel network NDTV MetroNation. Lulla replaces Sanjay Nigam who was heading NDTV MetroNation.

Lulla comes in from Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Texas where he was working as senior VP. He has worked in various places that includes Stanford University, CBS Radio and MTV Networks.

Nigam will be handling other verticals of the group, a NDTV spokesperson said.

Commenting on his appointment, Lulla said: “The foundation for MetroNation is laid and going forward we will now actively leverage rich local content across cities, develop stronger relationships, serving our local audiences and advertisers.”

NDTV’s first city-specific channel for Delhi and National Capital region (NCR) has been on air since September 2007.

July 30, 2008