ITV

Tag: RBNL

  • Quo Vadis ZEEL-RBNL

    Quo Vadis ZEEL-RBNL

    MUMBAI: It was hardly a month or so ago that ZEEL MD Punit Goenka had issued a denial, saying that it was not interested in acquiring the radio and TV business of the Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Broadcast Networks Ltd (RBNL) because radio regulations do not permit FDI equity beyond 49 per cent.

    But, the media was awash once again with the news that it had restarted negotiations with RBNL just two days ago. When Indiantelevision.com got in touch with the ZEEL corporate spokesperson whether this was true, this is the response, we got: “From time to time, we keep exploring strategic opportunities for entering new businesses or in our existing businesses. However, as a matter of policy, we do not comment on media speculations,” the response said.

    To us, this sounds ominously familiar. This is the exact response ZEEL and Essel had issued when news reports appeared about the sale of its TEN Sports business to Sony Pictures Networks India. When speculation about Siticable buying DEN Networks gathered steam, a similar line was thrown.

    Ditto was the response with Dish TV’s ongoing discussions to acquire Videocon d2h from the debt-laden-and struggling Videocon group. Dish TV is a part of the Essel group as well.

    And, we all know what happened with Ten Networks. After denying it for a few months, SPNI bought it over for a cool Rs 2,600 crore.

    The DEN Networks talks turned out to be just talks. Now, the Sameer Manchanda-promoted cable company has got an infusion of cash and the rumour mills state that it will be acquired by Star India at some stage.

    As far as Dish TV is concerned, the company recently moved its registered corporate office from Noida to a Mumbai address of Marathon Futurex, which also houses other Essel group ventures. Observers believe this move could help facilitate its Videocon d2h acquisition. The two groups will have to approach only one court – the Bombay High Court — for approvals. Whether this is true or not, only time will tell.

    Overall, the media industry is ripe for consolidation. And, the hungry to grow, Zee (Essel) group is scouting around for opportunities, chatting with almost everyone who could be a potential good addition to its portfolio. Analysts feel the prospective RBNL deal will be a win-win for Ambani as well as for the Essel group, of which ZEEL is a part.

    The Essel group is present in television, films, print, music, events and live, and digital. What’s missing is radio. The acquisition, when and if that does happen, will herald the group’s entry into that segment as well. It recently announced its diversification into that segment in the UAE by leasing the frequency, which was operated by the radio channel Hum. The lease becomes active cum January 2017.

    RBNL will also add a Bhojpuri regional channel BIG Ganga and a comedy-centric national channel Big Magic to the Zee TV bouquet. Both these genres are strikingly absent in the ZEEL bouquet. In July 2015, ZEEL gobbled up Odia channel Sarthak TV for Rs 115 crore.

    Anil Ambani has been attempting to find buyers for his media and entertainment assets for some time now. Lured by the sector, he rushed into it in the previous decade setting up a DTH venture, poured investments in DreamWorks, in his Bollywood studio, in a VFX studio and in shooting floors, a TV production company, and in radio and TV broadcasting.

    The oodles of cash he kept on pumping into the sector have not got the return he expected. One bright spark has been his radio and TV venture, especially the FM station and the regional channels. Recently, the group announced that it was carving out its DTH venture Reliance Digital TV into a separate company from Reliance Communications.

    Observers say that the Zee group and RBNL are examining ways of slicing and dicing the RBNL business to facilitate a buyout. Among the options being considered is ingesting FM radio into Zee Media, and incorporating the Big Magic channels into ZEEL. According to BSE filings, Zee Media does not have any significant foreign holding. Hence, the foreign investment cap will not come in its way of digesting Big FM. And ZEEL’s acquisition of the Big channels is but a shoo-in.

    Of course, pricing has to be agreed between the two parties. Figures of Rs 2,000 crore-Rs 2,500 crore that are being bandied about seem far too inflated considering the scale of RBNL’s radio and TV business. The acquisition tag could more likely be at half of that. Or, if one stretches ones pockets, at a discount of Rs 500 crore to that.

    We, as media observers, can only wait and watch to see which way the pendulum swings.

  • Quo Vadis ZEEL-RBNL

    Quo Vadis ZEEL-RBNL

    MUMBAI: It was hardly a month or so ago that ZEEL MD Punit Goenka had issued a denial, saying that it was not interested in acquiring the radio and TV business of the Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Broadcast Networks Ltd (RBNL) because radio regulations do not permit FDI equity beyond 49 per cent.

    But, the media was awash once again with the news that it had restarted negotiations with RBNL just two days ago. When Indiantelevision.com got in touch with the ZEEL corporate spokesperson whether this was true, this is the response, we got: “From time to time, we keep exploring strategic opportunities for entering new businesses or in our existing businesses. However, as a matter of policy, we do not comment on media speculations,” the response said.

    To us, this sounds ominously familiar. This is the exact response ZEEL and Essel had issued when news reports appeared about the sale of its TEN Sports business to Sony Pictures Networks India. When speculation about Siticable buying DEN Networks gathered steam, a similar line was thrown.

    Ditto was the response with Dish TV’s ongoing discussions to acquire Videocon d2h from the debt-laden-and struggling Videocon group. Dish TV is a part of the Essel group as well.

    And, we all know what happened with Ten Networks. After denying it for a few months, SPNI bought it over for a cool Rs 2,600 crore.

    The DEN Networks talks turned out to be just talks. Now, the Sameer Manchanda-promoted cable company has got an infusion of cash and the rumour mills state that it will be acquired by Star India at some stage.

    As far as Dish TV is concerned, the company recently moved its registered corporate office from Noida to a Mumbai address of Marathon Futurex, which also houses other Essel group ventures. Observers believe this move could help facilitate its Videocon d2h acquisition. The two groups will have to approach only one court – the Bombay High Court — for approvals. Whether this is true or not, only time will tell.

    Overall, the media industry is ripe for consolidation. And, the hungry to grow, Zee (Essel) group is scouting around for opportunities, chatting with almost everyone who could be a potential good addition to its portfolio. Analysts feel the prospective RBNL deal will be a win-win for Ambani as well as for the Essel group, of which ZEEL is a part.

    The Essel group is present in television, films, print, music, events and live, and digital. What’s missing is radio. The acquisition, when and if that does happen, will herald the group’s entry into that segment as well. It recently announced its diversification into that segment in the UAE by leasing the frequency, which was operated by the radio channel Hum. The lease becomes active cum January 2017.

    RBNL will also add a Bhojpuri regional channel BIG Ganga and a comedy-centric national channel Big Magic to the Zee TV bouquet. Both these genres are strikingly absent in the ZEEL bouquet. In July 2015, ZEEL gobbled up Odia channel Sarthak TV for Rs 115 crore.

    Anil Ambani has been attempting to find buyers for his media and entertainment assets for some time now. Lured by the sector, he rushed into it in the previous decade setting up a DTH venture, poured investments in DreamWorks, in his Bollywood studio, in a VFX studio and in shooting floors, a TV production company, and in radio and TV broadcasting.

    The oodles of cash he kept on pumping into the sector have not got the return he expected. One bright spark has been his radio and TV venture, especially the FM station and the regional channels. Recently, the group announced that it was carving out its DTH venture Reliance Digital TV into a separate company from Reliance Communications.

    Observers say that the Zee group and RBNL are examining ways of slicing and dicing the RBNL business to facilitate a buyout. Among the options being considered is ingesting FM radio into Zee Media, and incorporating the Big Magic channels into ZEEL. According to BSE filings, Zee Media does not have any significant foreign holding. Hence, the foreign investment cap will not come in its way of digesting Big FM. And ZEEL’s acquisition of the Big channels is but a shoo-in.

    Of course, pricing has to be agreed between the two parties. Figures of Rs 2,000 crore-Rs 2,500 crore that are being bandied about seem far too inflated considering the scale of RBNL’s radio and TV business. The acquisition tag could more likely be at half of that. Or, if one stretches ones pockets, at a discount of Rs 500 crore to that.

    We, as media observers, can only wait and watch to see which way the pendulum swings.

  • AIDEM co-founder Vikas Khanchandani joins RBNL

    AIDEM co-founder Vikas Khanchandani joins RBNL

    MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) has appointed Vikas Khanchandani as chief business officer.

    With over 20 years of experience working across digital, television, ad and media technology, Khanchandani will be responsible for driving strategic business initiatives – new technologies and customer engagement. He will be reporting to RBNL COO Ashwin Padmanabhan.

    On the development, Padmanabhan said, “We are happy to have Vikas on board who comes with a wealth of experience and domain expertise. With his extensive knowledge across the television and digital medium, we are confident that he will be able to further accelerate the growth story of the group.”

    Prior joining to RBNL, Khanchandani was the co-founder of AIDEM Ventures where he played the dual role of managing existing businesses of AIDEM even while he was aggressively driving the growth agenda of building a unique and valuable media sales and services company.

    He was also the part of the core leadership team which set up NDTV Media. Under his leadership, the channel witnessed phenomenal growth, creating a benchmark within the news genre and leading the category. He started his media career with Star India as a key member of the strategic planning and management team which worked on sales strategies for the Network’s channels.

  • AIDEM co-founder Vikas Khanchandani joins RBNL

    AIDEM co-founder Vikas Khanchandani joins RBNL

    MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) has appointed Vikas Khanchandani as chief business officer.

    With over 20 years of experience working across digital, television, ad and media technology, Khanchandani will be responsible for driving strategic business initiatives – new technologies and customer engagement. He will be reporting to RBNL COO Ashwin Padmanabhan.

    On the development, Padmanabhan said, “We are happy to have Vikas on board who comes with a wealth of experience and domain expertise. With his extensive knowledge across the television and digital medium, we are confident that he will be able to further accelerate the growth story of the group.”

    Prior joining to RBNL, Khanchandani was the co-founder of AIDEM Ventures where he played the dual role of managing existing businesses of AIDEM even while he was aggressively driving the growth agenda of building a unique and valuable media sales and services company.

    He was also the part of the core leadership team which set up NDTV Media. Under his leadership, the channel witnessed phenomenal growth, creating a benchmark within the news genre and leading the category. He started his media career with Star India as a key member of the strategic planning and management team which worked on sales strategies for the Network’s channels.

  • nexGTv has acquired worldwide digital rights for RBNL’s Big Magic and Big Magic Ganga

    nexGTv has acquired worldwide digital rights for RBNL’s Big Magic and Big Magic Ganga

    MUMBAI: nexGTv has partnered with Reliance Broadcast Network for the worldwide digital rights of the network’s popular channels Big Magic and Big Magic Ganga. The channels will be available for viewing through nexGTv’s platform for viewers around the world, except North America, as a part of nexGTv’s paid packages.

    Big Magic offers a rib-tickling line-up of comedy sitcoms which includes mythological and historical comedies, stand-up acts and comedy blockbuster films, along with weekend and festive specials. On the other hand, Big Magic Ganga provides regional entertainment which is focused on audiences from Jharkhand, Bihar and the Purvanchal Region of India.

    Talking about the collaboration,  nexGTV COO Abhesh Verma said, “We, at nexGTv, have always endeavoured to provide the most personalised entertainment options to our viewership across the globe. Our partnership with Reliance Broadcast Network, which is one of the leading television networks in the country, further highlights our commitment to keep expanding the already extensive library of India-centric content available on our platform. We are confident that the Indian expat population will appreciate this latest addition of even more tailored regional and genre-specific content to their entertainment options.”

    With the move, nexGTv will also widen its viewership amongst children and teens by engaging them with shows like Baal Krishna, Naya Akbar Birbal and Vikram aur Munja. Both Big Magic and BIG Magic Ganga can be enjoyed by nexGTv users on all platforms, including mobile and web.

  • nexGTv has acquired worldwide digital rights for RBNL’s Big Magic and Big Magic Ganga

    nexGTv has acquired worldwide digital rights for RBNL’s Big Magic and Big Magic Ganga

    MUMBAI: nexGTv has partnered with Reliance Broadcast Network for the worldwide digital rights of the network’s popular channels Big Magic and Big Magic Ganga. The channels will be available for viewing through nexGTv’s platform for viewers around the world, except North America, as a part of nexGTv’s paid packages.

    Big Magic offers a rib-tickling line-up of comedy sitcoms which includes mythological and historical comedies, stand-up acts and comedy blockbuster films, along with weekend and festive specials. On the other hand, Big Magic Ganga provides regional entertainment which is focused on audiences from Jharkhand, Bihar and the Purvanchal Region of India.

    Talking about the collaboration,  nexGTV COO Abhesh Verma said, “We, at nexGTv, have always endeavoured to provide the most personalised entertainment options to our viewership across the globe. Our partnership with Reliance Broadcast Network, which is one of the leading television networks in the country, further highlights our commitment to keep expanding the already extensive library of India-centric content available on our platform. We are confident that the Indian expat population will appreciate this latest addition of even more tailored regional and genre-specific content to their entertainment options.”

    With the move, nexGTv will also widen its viewership amongst children and teens by engaging them with shows like Baal Krishna, Naya Akbar Birbal and Vikram aur Munja. Both Big Magic and BIG Magic Ganga can be enjoyed by nexGTv users on all platforms, including mobile and web.

  • Consumer Insights and original content makes Big Ganga leader in its space: Tarun Katial

    Consumer Insights and original content makes Big Ganga leader in its space: Tarun Katial

    MUMBAI: Every region has its own favorite channel and its denizens like to consume content in their own vernacular language. Hence all major broadcasters invest on a regional offering. Reliance Broadcast Networks Limited (RBNL) has a Bhojpuri channel under the Big banner -Big Ganga. “Since the last 26 weeks we have been number one” says RBNL CEO Tarun Katial.

    In Broadcast Audience Research Council BARC India ratings, Big Ganga with 27086 Impressions (000’s) stands tall at number one position over Bhojpuri Cinema which secured a rating of 15875 Impressions (000s).

    “From the very beginning we were committed on one factor and that is local consumers. Each and every step of ours is based on consumer insights. We are committed to our consumer and we will offer them original content, not overlapping content which is just dubbed or remade,” asserts Katial.

    Soon after BARC India started rolling out its rural data, RBNL made Big Ganga available on DD Freedish. Katial believes this is a factor which enhanced the channel’s reach but says that is not the primary reason behind Big Ganga being number one in its genre. “We were number one before BARC started rolling out its rural data and we are number one now too. Freedish did a reach jump for us, but it is the secondary element, the primary reason behind our leadership is our home grown content,” explains Katial.

    Shows like Big Memsaab, Rasoi Ki Rani and Bhakti Samrat are the homegrown assets of the channel which rope in maximum viewership for the channel. The content is well recognised by advertisers and the network has witnessed a significant growth in its ad rates. “The rates have gone up by 100 per cent and we see them going up further. It is because of the people we are catering to, and the kind of content we are producing,” reveals Katial.

    “In the Bhojpuri market print continues to be the dominant medium as far as advertising is concerned. But Big Ganga over the years has created a place of its own. As per my estimates, the cost of a 10 second slot now would be close to Rs 5000 – 6000. It saw serious increment after the rural data roll-out,” says a media planning expert on condition of anonymity.

    Big Ganga is not only a channel for Bihar and Jharkand as per Katial, “We are a pan India channel catering to the entire community. A significant amount of our viewership comes from places other than Jharkhand and Bihar,” he says.

    “Now we are looking towards putting serious investment behind consumer insights and coming up with significant original content,” he concludes with a smile.

  • Consumer Insights and original content makes Big Ganga leader in its space: Tarun Katial

    Consumer Insights and original content makes Big Ganga leader in its space: Tarun Katial

    MUMBAI: Every region has its own favorite channel and its denizens like to consume content in their own vernacular language. Hence all major broadcasters invest on a regional offering. Reliance Broadcast Networks Limited (RBNL) has a Bhojpuri channel under the Big banner -Big Ganga. “Since the last 26 weeks we have been number one” says RBNL CEO Tarun Katial.

    In Broadcast Audience Research Council BARC India ratings, Big Ganga with 27086 Impressions (000’s) stands tall at number one position over Bhojpuri Cinema which secured a rating of 15875 Impressions (000s).

    “From the very beginning we were committed on one factor and that is local consumers. Each and every step of ours is based on consumer insights. We are committed to our consumer and we will offer them original content, not overlapping content which is just dubbed or remade,” asserts Katial.

    Soon after BARC India started rolling out its rural data, RBNL made Big Ganga available on DD Freedish. Katial believes this is a factor which enhanced the channel’s reach but says that is not the primary reason behind Big Ganga being number one in its genre. “We were number one before BARC started rolling out its rural data and we are number one now too. Freedish did a reach jump for us, but it is the secondary element, the primary reason behind our leadership is our home grown content,” explains Katial.

    Shows like Big Memsaab, Rasoi Ki Rani and Bhakti Samrat are the homegrown assets of the channel which rope in maximum viewership for the channel. The content is well recognised by advertisers and the network has witnessed a significant growth in its ad rates. “The rates have gone up by 100 per cent and we see them going up further. It is because of the people we are catering to, and the kind of content we are producing,” reveals Katial.

    “In the Bhojpuri market print continues to be the dominant medium as far as advertising is concerned. But Big Ganga over the years has created a place of its own. As per my estimates, the cost of a 10 second slot now would be close to Rs 5000 – 6000. It saw serious increment after the rural data roll-out,” says a media planning expert on condition of anonymity.

    Big Ganga is not only a channel for Bihar and Jharkand as per Katial, “We are a pan India channel catering to the entire community. A significant amount of our viewership comes from places other than Jharkhand and Bihar,” he says.

    “Now we are looking towards putting serious investment behind consumer insights and coming up with significant original content,” he concludes with a smile.

  • RBNL CEO Tarun Katial denies sell-off rumours

    RBNL CEO Tarun Katial denies sell-off rumours

    MUMBAI: Speculative reports this afternoon on a possible sell-off of Anil Ambani’s Reliance Broadcast Network Limited’s (RBNL) to Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) in order of “reduce debt” have raised many an eyebrows.

    The report mentioned that the company was looking to offload up to 49 per cent stake in RBNL, which operates the channels Big Magic and Big Ganga as well as the Big FM radio network.

    However, denying the same and putting an end to all rumours, RBNL CEO Tarun Katial tells Indiantelevision.com, “The rumors have no truth in them. I deny any such development, we have no sell-off plan and we are functioning normally.”

    Of RBNL’s two channels, while Big Magic operates in the Hindi space, Big Ganga caters to the entertainment needs of Bhojpuri audiences. The Bhojpuri channel has even been performing well on the ratings front and has been a market leader in the genre according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data.

    On the other hand, Big FM has a presence in as many as 45 cities across the country.

  • RBNL CEO Tarun Katial denies sell-off rumours

    RBNL CEO Tarun Katial denies sell-off rumours

    MUMBAI: Speculative reports this afternoon on a possible sell-off of Anil Ambani’s Reliance Broadcast Network Limited’s (RBNL) to Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) in order of “reduce debt” have raised many an eyebrows.

    The report mentioned that the company was looking to offload up to 49 per cent stake in RBNL, which operates the channels Big Magic and Big Ganga as well as the Big FM radio network.

    However, denying the same and putting an end to all rumours, RBNL CEO Tarun Katial tells Indiantelevision.com, “The rumors have no truth in them. I deny any such development, we have no sell-off plan and we are functioning normally.”

    Of RBNL’s two channels, while Big Magic operates in the Hindi space, Big Ganga caters to the entertainment needs of Bhojpuri audiences. The Bhojpuri channel has even been performing well on the ratings front and has been a market leader in the genre according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data.

    On the other hand, Big FM has a presence in as many as 45 cities across the country.