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Tag: Rohit Jain

  • Lionsgate Play launches first marketing campaign with Havas Creative

    Lionsgate Play launches first marketing campaign with Havas Creative

    MUMBAI: Premium entertainment service, Lionsgate Play has made a grand entry into the Indian market, with its first marketing campaign. The renowned global brand has awarded its creative mandate to Havas Creative India, the business will be handled by the agency’s Mumbai office.

    For the brand’s launch campaign Lionsgate and Havas Creative decided to go with a clutter-breaking quirky out of home campaign that has gone live across Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.

    The idea is to showcase multiple genres of movies to the same consumer emphasising the breadth of Lionsgate Play’s premium content offering hence the brand tapped into prime outdoor presence in select pockets across the city.

    The campaign is also tapping digital platforms where the call to action will be stronger and lead the user directly to the streaming partner’s app.

    Lionsgate Play India MD Rohit Jain said, “We are excited to get Havas Creative on board as our creative partner. Their thought process on the brand and the category is interesting and we look forward to building a strong brand here in India. We have always taken a bold stand, be it content where our super heroes are un-conventional like Hunger Games or while establishing a brand image, we like to be fearlessly bold in our approach. While OTT is an exciting category with many brands focusing on key titles to market themselves, we are looking at a consumer connect early in our journey so we can be relevant to our core audiences.”

    Commenting on the win and the campaign, Havas Mumbai managing partner – west & south Arindam Sengupta said, “We are delighted to partner with a renowned as well as innovative content player like Lionsgate Play, for its foray in the Indian market. In a content- first era,  Lionsgate Play brings a great mix of premium quality content to the Indian audiences, given our Havas Vivendi offering in India, which has content at its core, our partnership seems perfect. We look forward to building a differentiated and unique positioning for brand Lionsgate Play in dynamic Indian market.”

    Talking about the creative idea behind the campaign Havas Mumbai executive creative director Gururaj Rao said. “The idea emerged from the insight that one could watch blockbusters anywhere with LionsGate Play. And that too blockbusters from every genre. This led to a clutter-breaking campaign that attracts eyeballs with its witty innuendos and its quirky approach.”

  • SonyLIV partners Lionsgate to strengthen SVOD offering

    SonyLIV partners Lionsgate to strengthen SVOD offering

    MUMBAI: Everyone's going gaga over regional but there is also a section that's watching English content. To ensure this target stays connected, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)’s digital arm started increasing focus on international premium content around six months back. As the experiment worked out well for the platform, it has taken one more step by inking a strategic partnership with Hollywood giant Lionsgate. Moreover, subscription play is going to be a key focus area going forward. The step has been taken in the direction to build a strong SVOD catalogue by working along with the American entertainment giant.

    “The idea of the deal is to strengthen our subscription product even more. What we currently have on our app today is centred around our TV shows, some of our originals and sports and mostly a large set of movies. We are seeing subscription as a growing category. High quality international shows are gradually being available in India, the awareness around the shows have increased significantly and the ability and desire to binge watch in India have also gone up,” SPNI digital business head Uday Sodhi said explaining the rationale of the move.

    Although SonyLIV is going to leverage this deal in large-scale, Lionsgate is also benefitting from it as well. “This is a very important milestone for us. We are very happy with the partnership as Sony has a tremendous legacy in India. Fortunately, the partnership came at a time when they were looking to strengthen their English offering. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership. This a very strategic partnership focused on expanding the customer base, creating consumption and creating a fan base and not a syndication thing only,” Lionsgate India managing director Rohit Jain said.

    It is working closely with Lionsgate, the latter being one of the largest producers for TV series and movies across the world. An embedded Lionsgate Play destination will be bundled within SonyLIV’s current slate of programming and it will be available as part of its premium product offering.

    Sodhi also added that English content genre has seen exponential growth in OTT thanks to a few factors. One is the increasing trend of smart TV usage and another is the easy availability of international shows. In addition to that, the hype in social media during a show launch also helps to create awareness.

    However, the initial focus will be on TV series or web series over movies. “At this point of time, what Lionsgate and SonyLIV have thought through is that the TV series space or web-series space is an exciting space to go after. We are more tuned to watch series and are familiar with the entire TV ecosystem. Therefore, we are comfortable there,” Sodhi said.

    There will be 500 hours of original content as a result of the partnership on the OTT platform. While the significant majority of the content will be exclusive, some of the content will also be repetitive which is already present on other platforms. IMDB 8.3-rated Power debuts in India on SonyLIV. Critically acclaimed series Sweetbitter and Vida also make way to the platform. Science fictions and thrillers like Con Man and Insomnia will be the part of the catalogue also.

    Sports and English content have been the way to attract SVOD consumers still now which has resulted in almost no growth beyond metro cities. However, Sodhi is optimistic that once regional and Hindi premium content is added, consumers from tier II and III cities will also look forward to premium packages.

    While two powerhouses in their respective fields are focusing on a new side of their business, time will say how the deal will help them in long run.

  • Lionsgate sets up shop in India; appoints Rohit Jain as country head

    Lionsgate sets up shop in India; appoints Rohit Jain as country head

    MUMBAI: Global American content leader and NYSE-listed Lionsgate has finally set up shop in India to tap one of Asia’s biggest media markets. It has appointed Rohit Jain, a media industry veteran, to head the ops here as managing director.

    Jain, who till some time back worked with DTH operator Videocon d2h as deputy CEO for seven years contributing to the company’s growth in size and its Nasdaq listing, confirmed to Indiantelevision.com over phone his appointment and opening of the Mumbai office.

    Lionsgate India will spearhead all licensing to local linear and digital platforms in the territory from feature films, television series and library content under the Lionsgate and Starz brands.  It will work closely with the studio’s theatrical distribution partners to maximise box office for Lionsgate films, and it will partner with local production companies to develop intellectual property for theatrical release as well as distribution across other media platforms.

    Apart from that, Lionsgate India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of its American parent, will also explore investment opportunities throughout the Indian media market.

    “We’ve been focused on the enormous opportunity created by the Indian marketplace for years, and Rohit checks off all the boxes as the right executive to lead our business there,” said Lionsgate chief executive officer Jon Feltheimer in an official statement. 

    Feltheimer added: “Lionsgate brings to this territory a global content platform, an entrepreneurial mind set, and the agility of a next generation digital age company. Rohit is ideally qualified to leverage these strengths into accelerating growth and new business initiatives in the years ahead.”

    Lionsgate has been steadily expanding its global content platform with the continued growth of Lionsgate UK into a leading film and television production and distribution company, a growing operation in China that has established strong relationships with nearly all major platforms in the territory and increased the studio’s box office gross by 63 per cent from last year, and a new Canadian office that was opened in Toronto earlier this year.

    “I’m thrilled to join Jon and the rest of the Lionsgate team as we continue to build the company’s brand in India,” according to Jain, a 20 years veteran of the Indian media industry.

    Jain further pointed out that as India was the next logical frontier for Lionsgate’s multi platform content creation, marketing expertise and digital initiatives, he was “incredibly excited” at the opportunities that lie ahead.

    Boasting the world’s second largest consumer population and fastest-growing middle class, India has achieved double-digit annual growth across television, film, interactive games and delivery of content to digital platforms.  With over 800 television channels, more than 30 over-the-top platforms, 8,500 theatrical exhibition screens and an evolving interactive game business, opportunities for content producers and distributors are continuing to increase, according to Lionsgate.

    In the past few years, the company said it has tripled its revenue from India and made Hindi-language film `Brothers, a remake of Lionsgate’s critically-acclaimed `Warrior. A Hindi-language remake of the studio’s action hit comedy `Red is also in the works with a possible involvement of Hindi film star Anil Kapoor.

    Rohit Tiwari of Morris Street Advisors, who had previously served as Lionsgate’s local sales agent in India, has transitioned to a consulting relationship to Lionsgate India, the company said.

    The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world.  In addition to its filmed entertainment, Lionsgate claims its content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies.

    ALSO READ:

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  • Is India ready to embrace 4K Ultra HD?

    Is India ready to embrace 4K Ultra HD?

    CANNES: Ever since Star Sports broadcast a few important matches in 4K Ultra HD featuring the Indian team during the ICC Cricket World Cup earlier this year, a question hovering on many a lips is: Is India ready to embrace 4K Ultra HD?

     

    On Day 1 of Mipcom 2015, a panel comprising Videocon d2h deputy CEO Rohit Jain, Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari, BT Media & Broadcast VP Mark Wilson-Dunn and Travel XP CEO Prashant Chothani precisely attempted to answer this very question.

     

    Starting out, Jain gave an overview of how the direct to home industry has grown over the years and also how Videocon d2h has been a frontrunner in the recent past in terms of contributing heavily in helping India become a completely digitised country. “The last couple of years have seen some significant changes in how the television and broadcast ecosystem has evolved. India is among the fastest growing economics, and the biggest advantage is having an audience of 670 million under the age of 25 years,” he stated.

     

    “India also has the second largest market for Pay TV connections with 150 million homes. There are challenges of over-the-top (OTT) players coming in globally and India in a big way, but that must not be a hindrance for innovators like us to continue bringing about the best changes and continue being thought leaders in our space,” he added.

     

    Continuing the discussion and bringing a more global perspective to things, BT’s Wilson-Dunn said, “I honestly believe that India is a very strong content oriented market and has the right ingredients to grow as a 4K consuming audience. With the recently successful test of waters with the Cricket World Cup in India, it has certainly given a lot of confidence to us that India and Asia as a whole is ready for 4K consumption.”

     

    The panel agreed that sports would play a major role in establishing the future of 4K as well along with other live events and movies. “We are currently investing heavily in creating only 4K content and are confident that within the next two years, 4K will be huge in India,” said a confident Chothani. “I am currently also looking for the right partners for the distribution of the channel globally and I can already see the benefits of producing in 4K initially than going back and reinvesting in migrating from HD to 4K.”

     

    Indiantelevision.com’s Wanvari was more cautious in his approach on how India will embrace 4K. “I am sure 4K is the natural progression from HD, and with players like Prashant already investing heavily on creating the content pipeline, is an encouraging sign for the future of the content roadmap of the country. Although, the transponder space, which is currently available, is a cause of major concern and could be a downer for the spirits of many content distribution platforms like a Tata Sky and Videocon d2h,” he opined.

     

    The panel also discussed how 4K would ideally be for a niche audience, which would be in a position to generate higher average revenue per users (ARPUs) for distribution platforms that are currently generating anywhere between $3-4 on a monthly basis that could go up to $10-15 with 4K being introduced.

     

    At the end, the consensus amongst the panelists was that in the next five years, India will see a sizeable growth in the number of 4K content available on linear platforms, but these are still early days and one can only play the waiting game as the bigger challenge that still lies ahead is complete digitisation and accountability of users of content in the country.

  • Videocon d2h targets advertising revenue; strengthens ad sales team

    Videocon d2h targets advertising revenue; strengthens ad sales team

    MUMBAI: Direct to home (DTH) operator Videocon d2h is looking at increasing its advertising revenues. In order to achieve this, the DTH operator will not just offer targeted advertising across its regional language and proprietary channels, but also launch new channels shortly.

     

    In order to achieve the target, the operator has formed a new executive advertising team to be headed by Indian media sales experts.

     

    The advertising initiative, which will target inventory opportunities on the Videocon d2h platform, comes in response to the positive feedback from the operators’ advertisers such as Volkswagen, Honda, Disney, Sony TV, Zee Group and Star Sports. Media buyers will also be able to advertise on Videocon d2h’s home channel and info bar when changing channels.

     

    The new Videocon d2h advertising sales team is led by media veteran Tanmay Srivastava, who joins the company after serving as MSM Network head, advertising sales.  Reporting directly to Videocon d2h deputy CEO Rohit Jain, the operator has also recruited two other senior executives with extensive local advertising sales experience.

     

    The operator began offering advertising on its platform only last year. The inaugural effort focused on its home channel and generated approximately US$1.5 million in fiscal 2015. With its expanded initiative, Videocon d2h is anticipating substantially bigger advertising revenue gains in fiscal 2016.

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “Today’s announcement reconfirms our commitment to continuously identify growth opportunities for our shareholders. With the goal of generating new revenue through an expansive, targeted ad sales platform, we have assembled a solid team that is more than capable of moving this initiative forward for us. We look forward to being a part of their success in tapping Videocon d2h’s reach of 65 million consumers with exciting, new options, and we anticipate the advertising program to expand even further as we launch our own branded channels in the future.”

     

    Silver Eagle Acquisition founder Harry Sloan further added, “During the recent NASDAQ listing process, we focused on advertising sales as one of the important high margin growth opportunities.  As we look to roll out a bouquet of new branded channels we will be able to use the extensive reach of our platform to turn ad sales into bottom-line dollars. This is a programme that will benefit our growing consumer base, as well as those advertisers seeking their stake in the lucrative Indian TV market. Given the exciting growth in overall Indian advertising and the television ad market in India, we are very pleased to see the development of an effective advertising sales force implemented quickly and effectively.”

  • Anil Khera replaces RC Venkateish as DTH Operators Association president

    Anil Khera replaces RC Venkateish as DTH Operators Association president

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera has replaced Dish TV CEO RC Venkateish as the president of DTH Operators Association.

     

    Khera said, “We will be working together to resolve the issues pertaining to DTH industry. We will take up the issues of DTH operators with the relevant government authorities.  I hope that we will be able to resolve all issues of DTH operators amicably with all the stakeholders. I thank all the members for showing faith in me.”

     

    Khera was chosen unanimously by the members of the association as Venkateish’s replacement to represent the six direct to home (DTH) operators namely Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h, Sun Direct, Reliance Digital TV and Airtel Digital TV.

     

    In June 2014, Venkateish  was unanimously elected as the president for a term of one year, where the association had also decided to hold regular meetings every quarter to address issues concerning the DTH industry.

     

    Prior to Venkateish , Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal served as president of the DTH Operators Association for three years. After the conclusion of Nagpal’s tenure last year, the association had decided to elect the president for a one year term.

  • Videocon d2h files for IPO to raise Rs 700 crore

    Videocon d2h files for IPO to raise Rs 700 crore

    MUMBAI: For the past couple of years, the stockmarkets have been going through rough weather dampening an entrepreneur’s desire to raise funds through the initial public offering (IPO) route. With a new government in place, and optimism returning, the queue has once again started being formed outside the Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi) of those going in for IPOs. Shemaroo Entertainment earlier this month approached the public and now it is the turn of the  direct to home (DTH) service provider Videocon d2h which has finally made its filing with Sebi to raise Rs 700 crore.

     

    This is the second time the firm has proposed to go public. It had previously filed documents in December 2012 and had received a go ahead from SEBI but did not go ahead with the public float.

     

    Seven banks – including UBS, Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, SBI Capital Markets, Yes Bank, IDBI Capital will manage the share sale.

     

    As per the statement issued by the company, “The price band and the minimum bid lot will be decided by our company in consultation with the joint global coordinators and book running lead managers.”

     

    The company is also considering a preferential issue of up to 5,000,000 Equity Shares, aggregating up to Rs 50 crore with certain investors.

     

    “Our Company will complete the issuance and allotment of Equity Shares pursuant to the Pre-IPO Placement, if any, prior to the filing of the Red Herring Prospectus with the RoC. If the Pre-IPO Placement is completed, the Issue size will be reduced to the extent of such Pre-IPO Placement, subject to the issue size constituting at least 10 per cent of the post-Issue paid-up Equity Share capital of our Company,” the notice also stated.

     

    The company plans to spend a portion of the Net Proceeds of the issue towards acquisition of set-top boxes, outdoor units and accessories thereof from TEL, a Videocon Group entity.

     

    “We propose to utilise Rs 350.83 crore of the Net Proceeds towards acquisition of set-top boxes and outdoor units from TEL,” the statement added.

     

    The company is also looking to spend Rs 175 crore of the net proceeds to repay loans. “We may utilise a part of the Net Proceeds to repay/prepay certain term loan facilities availed from IDBI Bank Limited and ICICI Bank Limited, which are associates of the JGCBRLMs, IDBI Capital and I-Sec, respectively, and YES Bank, one of our JGCBRLMs.”  The amount left will be used for other general corporate purposes.

     

    The company commenced DTH operations in July 2009 and has grown its subscriber base from 0.44 million gross subscribers as of 31 March 2010, to 11.21 million gross subscribers, as of 30 June 2014, which represents approximately 16.2 per cent of the total DTH subscriber base in India.

     

    For the first quarter of 2015 the company has approximately 27 per cent incremental market share of the DTH subscriber base in India.

     

    The total income of the organisation for the three months ended 30 June 2014 was Rs 537.7 crore, during which time it generated net loss of Rs 78.15 crore. The firm has clocked a net loss of Rs 2,126 crore over the last five years.

  • Nick introduces sub brands; Nick Explore first to roll out

    Nick introduces sub brands; Nick Explore first to roll out

    MUMBAI: Taking its licensing and merchandising strategy forward, Nickelodeon India is set to introduce its own sub brands in the Indian market, Nick Explore, Nick Sports and Nick Action.

    The first edition from this kitty is ‘Nick Explore‘ in association with Mexus Education, one of the leading providers of hands-on educational toys for kids. The Nick Explore range of hands-on-learning toys and instructive games exposes kids to the fundamentals of science & technology, thus increasing their imagination and analytical skills.

    These edutainment toys are targeted at eight years and above, with 24 different models and priced from Rs 199 to 2499. Nick Explore includes toys like rocking chairs, quad bikes, 360 degree cannons, walking robots, retro planes, earthquake meters and many more. The components in all the toys are interchangeable, re-usable and comes with infinite possibilities of making new models and machines. The range will be available at Hamleys, Landmark, Reliance Time Out, Shoppers Stop, Beanstalk and several toy stores across the country.

    Speaking on the launch of Nickelodeon‘s sub brands, Viacom18 Media SVP – Consumer Products & Communications Sandeep Dahiya said, “This collaboration marks our entry into a new domain – both from a brand as well as a category perspective. The ‘Nick Explore‘ range of kits, developed by Mexus Education, will help unlock the creative potential in older kids, while exposing them to basics of science in a manner that‘s fun and interactive.”

    Mexus Education MD Rohit Jain adds, “We are delighted to launch our latest innovative designer toys as Nick Explore. This is in continuation with our efforts of making learning enjoyable for kids. Nick Explore series will give a new dimension to the way kids perceive toys and studies by delivering the rare mix of analytical skills and creativity. Now kids can make new designs everyday and experiment with their ideas to make real machines and life size models with world class quality components in Nick Explore products.”

    Nickelodeon‘s association with Mexus Education will include a 360-degree marketing promotion that will include on-air promotion, on-ground activities, digital and radio that will help in consumer engagement. The new product range will be promoted through various social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter as well as on the Nick India website. There will also be contests and retail promotions planned around the range.

  • Carat bags Reliance backed Extramarks’ media biz

    MUMBAI: Carat Media has been appointed the media AoR for new age digital learning solution company Extramarks Education. The brand plans to make sizeable investments on the media front with a high profile media campaign conceptualised by McCann Erickson.

    Infotel Broadband Services Ltd. (Infotel), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), has acquired a 38.5 per cent stake in Extramarks Education through its affiliate Reliance Strategic Investments.

    Promoted by Atul Kulshrestha, Extramarks was launched two years back commercially. It helps in making regular classes more tech savvy to make the teaching process interactive and more interesting.

    Extramarks CEO Rohit Jain said, “Extramarks is setting revolutionary standards in education whereby we aim to enhance the regular classroom experience and take a quantum leap forward – in the process, raising the quality of delivery for both students and teachers alike.”

    Carat Media EVP Vidhu Sagar said, “We at Carat are extremely proud to have been chosen by Extramarks as their media partner. We shall be partnering Extramarks in the media management exercise holistically – thus we’ll manage the entire set of media responsibilities for the brand including planning, buying and execution. Of course, we shall endeavour to do this with the help of all pertinent media platforms – including television, print, digital, OOH as well as activation.”