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Tag: Sameer Nair

  • Balaji Telefilms forays into original digital content with ALT

    Balaji Telefilms forays into original digital content with ALT

    MUMBAI: Television and film production company Balaji Telefilms has forayed into the original digital content business segment with the launch of ALT Digital Media Entertainment.

     

    This is move is reflective of the company’s strategic intent to extend its entertainment expertise to creating enjoyable, engaging content for digital audiences globally and monetise the incredible potential of original, premium, on-demand entertainment.

     

    ALT Digital Media will be looking at offering next generation of content which is original, edgy and contemporary. The company will create content for the entire connected ecosystem spanning mobiles, computers, tablets, smart TVs and game stations.

     

    Through this endeavour Balaji Telefilms will go beyond the current themes of television entertainment to set a new benchmark with younger, edgier and smarter contemporary content that merits a different medium. The move comes at a time when 75 per cent of Indian audiences accessing the internet are aged between 19 to 30 years and increasingly seek new entertainment.

     

    The company is assembling a team of professionals and is gearing up to launch in early 2016, presenting all-new original drama series across genres that will be co-created by some prominent names from the Indian entertainment industry. ALT Digital Media will initially develop content in Hindi and English and later in other regional languages, all of which will be available on subscription-based and premium ad-supported models to domestic and global Indian audiences.

     

    In addition to developing its own platform, ALT Digital Media is also in advanced discussions to seek synergistic associations and partnerships with leading technology and video distribution platforms.

     

    Original and exclusive content is the primary lever to attract digital subscribers, and this will be the key operating differentiator for ALT Digital Media, which is being supported by Big Data Analytics and will be led by ‘predictive data’ that draws on analytics driven insights for accurate content development, viewer monitoring and better customer segmentation.

     

    Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor said, “As one of India’s most pioneering media houses Balaji Telefilms has always focussed on content innovation. Our passion for entertainment continues to drive us to create exciting entertainment formats – spanning films, television and now for young digital audiences. Our foray into the digital space is aligned to our strategic intent to tap into the growing digital video phenomenon, where we bring our unique story telling strengths to create compelling content and deliver it directly to audiences who are always connected and seek quality, original entertainment in new formats.”

     

    Balaji Telefilms group CEO Sameer Nair added, “With greater use of handheld electronic devices, and growing, 3G, 4G & WI-fi penetration, a spectacular mobile video and e-commerce revolution is underway, dramatically changing consumers and consumption behaviour. For Balaji Telefilms, with its distinct strengths as an innovative entertainment powerhouse, it is the logical next step – to create the next generation of original, exciting fiction content. This foray enables Balaji to not only create and own content IP but to also build its own consumer base of audiences who seek original content and in the process, build a strong and valuable B2C brand. We are confident that ALT Digital Media will soon carve its own identity as a leading digital entertainment content creator and distributor in India for worldwide audiences.”

  • Balaji Telefilms’ promoters up stake to 47.29% post Star India’s exit

    Balaji Telefilms’ promoters up stake to 47.29% post Star India’s exit

    MUMBAI: After Star’s stake sale of 25.99 per cent in Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL), the company’s promoters Shobha and Ekta Kapoor have acquired 28,43,000 equity shares at Rs 63.60 per equity share. With this, the promoters have upped their stake in BTL from 42.93 per cent to 47.29 per cent.

     

    Prior to the acquisition, Shobha Kapoor held 14 per cent stake in BTL, which has now been upped to 15.31 per cent (99,82,462 equity shares) post the acquisition of shares from Star Middle East FZ-LLC.

     

    On the other hand, Ekta Kapoor’s shareholding in the company has increased to 23.87 per cent (1,55,62,704 equity shares) from the previous 20.81 per cent post the share acquisition.

     

    Balaji Telefilms group CEO Sameer Nair also acquired 416,000 equity shares, which takes his current holding in the company to 1.06 per cent (692,729 equity shares).

     

    Balaji Telefilms Limited managing director Shobha Kapoor said, “Balaji Telefilms has in place a very strong growth platform in both the television and motion pictures segments. We are very optimistic about our growth outlook that is being driven by a highly capable leadership team. This transaction is reflective of our confidence in the company and its growth story.”

     

    Nair added, “We have already embarked upon several exciting strategic initiatives, which we believe will translate into improved operating and financial performance. We are also very well poised to capitalise on the several opportunities opening up in the media industry.”

  • KBC’s 15 years: A dash of nostalgia

    KBC’s 15 years: A dash of nostalgia

    MUMBAI: 3 July, 2000 is a date Indian television industry folks will not forget. It was on this day that a new show hit TV screens on a channel called Star Plus which was a straggler in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) sweepstakes.

     

    It was hosted by an ageing actor who was a superstar a decade before.  Amitabh Bachchan on the Indian adaptation of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Kaun Banega Crorepati? caught Indian TV viewers’ imagination.

     

    Television had in the past experimented with film talent hosting or acting or directing shows. In the eighties, Ramesh Sippy, BR Chopra and Ramanand Sagar had managed to get the Indian TV audiences riveted in front of their TV sets with their ensemble consisting of film actors and some newbies. And it had worked – worked incredibly well.

     

    But Mr Bachchan was not at his peak.  He had begun his fall down the cliff. The buzz was that his star was on the descendant, his health had failed him and his business ventures had capsized, he had defaulted on payments and loans and he owed a lot to people.

     

    Hence, no one really expected Mr Bachchan and the new show to work. Excepting two executives: Sameer Nair, who was then programming head at Star and Steve Askew, his senior colleage out of Star Asia, HongKong. And Peter Mukerjea who headed Star India then. He had replaced the flamboyant former government bureaucrat Rathikant Basu.

     

    Packaged intelligently with Kaun Banega Crorepati were two other shows: Kyyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. Both talked about families and values of a bygone era, yet they seemed very contemporary because probably they were. And these three powered Star Plus very soon to the number one spot in the GEC space, polevaulting over the well entrenched Zee TV, Sony and Doordarshan.

     

    It was a spot it held on to for almost seven years, earning for News Corp billions of dollars, and becoming the brilliant stone of its Asian crown.

     

    Today, the network is headed by Uday Shankar who has expanded it into the regional space, niche content, sports, OTT services. It still leads the Indian market as probably the most valued Indian entertainment company. Some may argue that it’s Zee which is at the top, but that’s an argument that no one will possibly win.

     

    On 3 July, however, who were associated with the channel and the show at that time got nostalgic on social media.

     

    It began with a post by the then Star entertainment channel programming head Steve Askew: “15 years today since the beginning of the Indian Television revolution for STAR Plus! Thanks to Big Synergy, Balaji and of course Sameer Nair.”

     

    Sameer in turn went on to thank Big B and a host of others from Star associated with the show at that time.  Big Synergy promoter Siddhartha Basu then raised a toast stating: “Here’s to the crystal anniversary of the show that brought in the millenium, and everybody who was part of making it happen, cheers !”

     

    Star Plus marketing executive Mubina Ansari then posted a comment on her Facebook page which attracted several comments like bees to a honeypot.

     

    Said she:  “I will never forget 3.7.00. Rains like never before and a 1000 promoters on the streets of Mumbai asking people to tune in to KBC.”

     

    To which another Star Plus marketing had Vidyuth Bhandary (currently with Fremantle India) responded: “Yep !! How 15 years have passed !! I still remember behaving like a typical client with Roshan Abbas and Karan Chettri, as I was overlooking the Delhi onground promotions on 3rd July 2000 !! That was a mammoth operations and nothing has come close to it even today !!!”

     

    Remembering the old times Roshan Abbas who ran an event agency then added: “Oh I remember ! With Siddharth Roy Kapur (currently CEO UTV-Disney) in Lucknow, Vidyuth Bhandary Mubina Ansari all manning the streets ! And then came the biggest revolution in TV and Star Plus.”

     

    Sumantra ‘Sumo” Dutta (currently based in Dubai with a telecom company) who headed sales at that time piped in  “Seriously fun times. Game changing times. High risks too.”

     

    “Everything was planned up to the last detail,” revealed Samson Jesudas (in the distribution of Star India then). “Be it programming, marketing, distribution, advertising, branding, etc etc. I have yet to see a launch like this… No wonder today, if one picks up any channel, advertising firm, agencies, MSO, etc, one will find a ex Star guy/girl working for them. Amazing experience.”

     

    Jesudas also elaborated the role that distribution played in making the show visible to Indian viewers. He remarked in his response to Mubina: “Guys u forgetting the distribution team who ensured that Star Plus runs in prime band in all cable networks. I remember that we bought all cable guys under one roof on 3.7.00, so that there’s no sabotage and blackout of Star Plus and even if there’s one, we have the cable owner in front of us to rectify the same.”

     

    He finally ended by saying it was “teamwork” which made it happen.

     

    KBC, ran for only three seasons on Star Plus (2000-2001, 2005-2006 and 2007) but it helped chart a new course for Murdoch’s Indian entertainment venture. It moved to Sony in 2010 and has run for five seasons (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014).  The format has undergone a metamorphosis with more reality elements being added. Hopefully, its sixth season will do the trick for Sony.

  • FY-2015: Despite lower revenue, Balaji Telefilms back in the black; board recommends 30% dividend

    FY-2015: Despite lower revenue, Balaji Telefilms back in the black; board recommends 30% dividend

    BENGALURU:  Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji Telefilms) reported 15 per cent decline in consolidated Total Income from Operations (TIO) at Rs 346.49 crore in FY-2015 (year ended 31 March, 2015, current year) as compared to Rs 407.46 crore in the previous year. The company reported a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 5.62 crore (1.6 per cent of TIO) as compared to a loss of Rs 17.21 crore in the previous year, (FY-2014 results had included survival benefits of a keyman insurance policy to the extent of Rs 6.73 crore).

     

    Note:  (1)100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    (2) All numbers are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

     

    Consolidated operating revenue in Q4-2015 declined 8.8 per cent to Rs 76.94 crore as compared to Rs 84.4 crore in Q4-2014, but improved 7.5 per cent from Rs 71.54 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    The company reported a positive consolidated EBIDTA in FY-2015 of Rs 6.06 crore as compared to negative EBIDTA (operating loss) of Rs 21.78 crore in the previous year. Consolidated EBIDTA in Q4-2015 was Rs 8.04 crore as compared to negative EBIDTA (operating loss) of Rs 22.37 crore in Q4-2014 and negative EBIDTA (operating loss) of Rs 6.91 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Balaji Telefilms’ consolidated cost of production of movies and television serials in FY-2015 declined 23 per cent to Rs 296.53 crore as compared to the Rs 395.09 crore reported in FY-2014. Consolidated cost of production of movies and television serials declined 36.1 per cent in Q4-2015 to Rs 59.84 crore as compared to the Rs 93.63 crore in Q4-2014 and declined 13.4 per cent as compared to the Rs 69.14 crore in Q3-015.

     

    Revenue Streams

     

    The following subsidiaries, LLPs’ and revenue streams contribute to Balaji Telefilms consolidated numbers: Balaji Telefilms standalone; wholly owned subsidiaries BMPL and Boll Media Limited; other subsidiaries and LLP – Marinating Films and Event Media LLP.

     

    Balaji Television

     

    On a standalone basis, Balaji Telefilms Total Operating Revenue (TOR) in FY-2015 increased 59 per cent to Rs 205.76 crore as compared to the Rs 129.20 crore in FY-2015. TOR in Q4-2015 at Rs 60.64 crore was 51.4 per cent more than the Rs 40.07 crore in Q4-2014 and 3.6 per cent more than the Rs 58.53 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Standalone PAT in FY-2015 at Rs 12.27 crore was 22.5 per cent more than the Rs 10.02 crore in FY-2014. Standalone PAT in Q4-2015 was Rs 9.61 crore as compared to PAT of Rs 0.13 crore in Q4-2014 and Rs 3.09 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Standalone cost of production in FY-2015 at Rs 166.80 crore was 65.8 per cent higher than the Rs 100.6 crore in FY-2014.Standalone cost of production increased by 74 per cent in Q4-2015 to Rs 44.91 crore from Rs 25.82 crore in Q4-2014, but declined 5.7 per cent from Rs 47.61 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    Excluding regional segment and events, on a standalone basis, Balaji Telefilms reported a 49.1 per cent growth in programming hours in the current quarter (Q4-2015) to 258 hours as compared to 177 hours in Q4-2014, but a decline of 6.9 per cent from the 277 hours in the previous quarter (Q3-2015).

     

    The company’s revenue per hour increased by 0.7 per cent to Rs 23.06 lakh in Q4-2015 as compared to the Rs 22.90 lakh in Q4-2014, and increased by 11.7 per cent from the Rs 20.64 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Balaji Telefilms Stock movement

     

    The board of directors of the company has recommended a dividend of Rs 0.60 per equity share having face value of Rs 2 each, or 30 per cent, as compared to the Rs 0.40 per share (20 per cent) in the previous year.

     

    The script closed at Rs 75.10 per equity share on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), up 5.92 percent (up Rs 4.20) from the previous close of Rs 70.90. The share had opened at Rs 73.50 today and saw a volume of 415349 shares. The BSE Sensex witnessed fall of 27.86 points to close at 27809.35 points today.

     

    On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Balaji Telefilms shares closed at Rs 75.05 each, up 6.23 per cent (Rs 4.40) from the previous close of Rs 70.65 each. The share had opened at Rs 73 today on the NSE and saw a volume of 1627950 shares. NSE’s Nifty closed at 8241 points, down 2.25 points from yesterday.

  • “Broadcasters need to stop relying on advertisers for revenue”: Sameer Nair

    “Broadcasters need to stop relying on advertisers for revenue”: Sameer Nair

    MUMBAI: Broadcasters need to stop relying solely on advertisers as their main source of revenue. Moreover as digitisation reaches the third phase, it is imperative to for them to come up with new content strategies.

     

    A FICCI Frames session moderated by media analyst and columnist Vinita Kohli Khandekar saw an aggressive discussion by top level media and broadcast executives on the future of content creation keeping in mind the emergence of digital platforms.

     

    The panel comprised Balaji Group CEO Sameer Nair, Disney India VP and content head Vijay Subramanium, Reliance Broadcast CEO Tarun Katial, Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi and Star Plus GM Gaurav Banerjee.

     

    There are approximately 815 channels, which places India amongst the top five video consumers of the world and it is crucial to have varied and captivating content, which caters to the need of the viewers. The biggest question that arises from the scenario is – What should be changed to make better content?

     

    A pertinent point raised by Nair was that channels need to cut down their dependence on advertisers as their main source of revenue and find alternate sources in order to dish out quality content.

     

    Nair asserted, “The content we have been producing is often termed as trash, which in reality is not because we all remember the content and no one remembers trash. We are a growing industry and content takes time to transit. We have to give it the necessary amount of time as a sudden transition may lead to confusion. Some years back there were 25 million TV homes and now we have 100 million homes. This proves that we are growing. Like every business, content is dominated by economics. We need to stop our heavy reliance on advertisers. Our need to earn high ratings is because of advertiser pressure and that is what is stopping us from aggressively experimenting with content. We need to start discovering other sources of revenue.”

     

    Talking about the necessities, Banerjee added, “A lot has changed from where we were a few years back. We are a lot more ambitious from what we used to be. The budget for a half an hour fiction show has risen from Rs 7 lakh– 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh– 20 lakh and that speaks volumes. Television industry’s biggest power is its reach. We reach twice the audience of the biggest viewed film release and hence with the reach comes responsibility, which we should not forget, while making content. The need of the hour is devoting more time and money to research and development. We need to research in depth before putting up any content as it might have its repercussion and have socio-economic fabric of our nation..”

     

    During the course of the discussion, an issue that was constantly debated was whether films or TV shows make for better content. Firmly defending TV content over films, Banerjee said, “We should have a more distinguished measurement phenomenon when it comes to cinema and we should also not forget the fact that the number of screens is shrinking. There are a lot of opportunities to improve and no reason to rate films over TV content as of now.”

     

    Supporting Banarjee’s opinion, Katial added, “Films in recent times have lost their purpose and contribute very little in creating a social impact.”

     

    “What comes from the production house is just a one line concept and the channel gets into it and executes what is shown on TV. Another part that plays a vital role in improvising content is measurement, which comes from research because what TAM shows is post airing analyses and does not favour in deciding if the content is appropriate. So overall, while we are setting ourselves for the new era of TV content production we have to test, try and excel,” said Hejmadi.

     

    Now it remains to be seen if TV content makers raise the bar and produce quality content instead of jumping for  quantity and following herd mentality. More importantly, the need of the hour also is for broadcasters to discover alternate source of revenue for their business in order to make compelling content.

  • Balaji diversifies into fashion segment; partners Best Deal TV

    Balaji diversifies into fashion segment; partners Best Deal TV

    MUMBAI: After ruling the television industry for close to 20 years, Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms is all set to diversify into a different business segment. The production house is planning to launch its first fashion label ‘EK’ at the Television Glamour & Fashion Awards, which will to aired on Colors on 29 March. 

     

    Brand ‘EK’ has been licensed to Balaji Telefilms by Kapoor, who owns the brand for commercialisation.

     

    Initially, the label will be available on Akshay Kumar and Raj Kundra’s new television channel Best Deal TV, which will be Balaji Telefilms’ exclusive television partner to merchandise the brand. The production house is also in the process of associating with an online partner to further grow the brand.

     

    A line comprising ethnic wear, mainly sarees and jewellery will be launched first, followed by Indo­-western trends and accessories in the near future.

     

    Brand ‘EK’ is a natural culmination of the  significant legacy of over 20 years that Ekta  Kapoor has created in the world of entertainment and now she takes her business and passion forward with the launch of her brand via merchandising.

     

    A foray into the fashion world is a first of its kind venture for Balaji Telefilms and the company will get a percentage of sales as royalty.

     

    “Television and style are consumed by viewers in different forms on a daily basis. ‘EK’ is an attempt to marry the two. We are excited with this new venture and look to make a mark in the fashion world, by making the brand easily accessible through online and television  shopping networks,” said Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta  Kapoor.

     

    “This is an endeavour to leverage an existing potential opportunity within the ever-popular fashion theme. Celebrities play an influential role in modern culture and consumption patterns, serving as arbiters of taste, style and public opinion the world over. Given the popularity of Balaji’s soaps and serials the ‘EK’ fashion label is set to make a mark with Indian audiences across  the globe,” added Balaji Telefilms group CEO Sameer Nair.

  • Colors & Ekta Kapoor partner for Television Style Awards

    Colors & Ekta Kapoor partner for Television Style Awards

    MUMBAI: Over the years, there have been many style trends that have put Indian television on the global map. These trends have, often single handedly, added to the soaring popularity of television shows making them an endearing proposition for viewers.

     

    To deliver the same, Colors in association with Marinating Films, a subsidiary of Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms is set to launch the first ever Television Style Awards. The event is scheduled to take place in Mumbai on 13 March.

     

    The awards will recognise the trends and the trendsetters of the television industry that have penetrated into the very heartland of the country. It aims at celebrating Indian television’s most stylish and fashionable stars, who have made an impact across the globe. The event will bring together a unique blend of glamour, fun and entertainment. The style-filled evening will pay homage to those style trends which have been created by television stars that have carved a niche in the world of glamour in over 22 categories.

     

    The winners, across categories, have been handpicked by the jury members namely Karan Johar, Shilpa Shetty, Manish Malhotra and Dabboo Ratnani. 

     

    Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “We hope that these awards encourage costume designers across the spectrum to push the envelope further to create path-breaking trends. The Television Style Awards aims at celebrating the icons who have contributed towards the growth and development of the television entertainment industry. We are happy to have associated with Ekta Kapoor and Balaji Telefilms for this unique offering.”

     

    Moreover, it will bring together the entire television industry as the best trendsetters receive due credit for creating impactful style statements. The awards evening will be hosted by Karan Johar and Manish Paul. It will also witness a volley of incredibly stylized and high-voltage performances by the most prominent faces from the television industry.

     

    Balaji Telefilms group CEO Sameer Nair believes that television and style are two integral elements, which are consumed by viewers in different forms on a daily basis. “Through the Television Style Awards, we are attempting to recognise the contribution of the various members of the television industry for making small-screen style a global phenomenon. Partnering with the channel on such an endeavour has been fantastic,” added Nair.

  • Balaji Telefilms and Chhayabani announce strategic partnership

    Balaji Telefilms and Chhayabani announce strategic partnership

    MUMBAI: Television and film production company, Balaji Telefilms, has entered into an alliance with Kolkata-based company, Chhayabani, to create distinctive, contemporary, clutter breaking television content.

     

    Chhayabani Balaji Entertainment will be developed as a unique platform that will initially produce television content and gradually scale up to explore other creative opportunities, while also becoming a magnetic hub attracting talented people – technicians and artists, to work together in a collaborative manner.

     

    Chhayabani is highly acknowledged for its glorious heritage in the area of entertainment, in Kolkata. This collaboration brings together two media houses with distinctive strengths to explore new formats of television presentation, create exciting high-end scripted content, while also attracting high quality talent.

     

    Commenting on the development, Balaji Telefilms joint MD Ekta Kapoor said, “Balaji is at a very exciting phase of growth. Within the Indian entertainment space, over time we have created our own unique position across both – the films and the television businesses, which by nature are two completely different disciplines. Our aim is to explore how best we can leverage Balaji’s competitive strengths to create exciting entertainment across media that will propel our growth. We are delighted that Chhayabani emerged as the most preferred partner for Balaji given their cinematic excellence and their tremendous passion to produce quality entertainment products.”

     

    Added Balaji Telefilms group CEO Sameer Nair, “We have always believed that growth is collaborative, which has also been our operating philosophy in a super-dynamic industry. We are very excited to partner with Chhayabani and as evident, the synergies are extremely strong. This collaboration helps us build a unique and robust platform that allows us to explore a very wide variety of avenues, given our respective creative strengths and the huge libraries of film and television content which we aim to leverage as we move forward.”

     

    Chhayabani director Saugata Nandi said, “It is gratifying to finally see a long cherished idea culminating into a strong association between Balaji and us — with a common vision of drawing the best creative talent available in the region to generate never-before-seen content for a very culturally driven and art-oriented Bengali audience. While Balaji holds the numero uno position in the television and film industry in India, Chhayabani has the distinction of being laced with an enviable reputation of being the torch bearer of the golden era in Bengali television and cinema. Through this platform we look forward to present very distinctive content that talks the universal language of emotions and instantly connects with the viewer.”

  • Balaji Telefilms joins Indus Media to enter American TV market

    Balaji Telefilms joins Indus Media to enter American TV market

    MUMBAI: One of India’s leading television and film production company, Balaji Telefilms, has marked its foray into the American television market by inking an American television series production deal with Indus Media. This deal will see Balaji secure rights to the TV series Brown Nation, a satirical comedy based on the lives of Indian Americans.

    This will be the first series under the new deal and is being planned for release in early 2015. Balaji has been scouting for collaborations with international players to produce content for various geographies across media platforms and this will be an important step to reach out to a diverse audience.

    The production house had recently roped in media veteran Sameer Nair as the group CEO to spearhead its expansion strategy and lead the way for the next level of growth by identifying unexplored avenues.

    “India is at the centre of global limelight and the timing is right for us to create path breaking entertainment on an international stage. We look forward to this partnership to extend our creative success to newer horizons,” said Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor.

    “We are extremely pleased to join with Indus in producing this series,” added Nair. “American sitcoms have influenced urban India and Indian youth across the globe. This will be a good opportunity for us to leverage our creative supremacy to enter a market not sufficiently fed with similar products,” he further said.

    “We have been looking to enter India with our proposed entertainment fund and this fits in well with our India strategy. We are absolutely delighted to associate with Balaji Telefilms to fuel our growth,” said Indus Media founding director Naveen Chathappuram.

    Added Indus Media founding director Devarajan, “I have had a long standing relationship with Balaji and this deal is a dream come true. We are very excited about our new creative and business partnership with Balaji and look forward to enhance value to all stakeholders.”

    American television has always been popular with youngsters in India. Be it ‘Friends’, ‘Two and Half Men’, ‘Big Bang Theory, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and the like. On the other hand, Indian characters have become a permanent fixture on American television sitcoms, as well as in movies. One of the main reasons for this is the dramatic growth in the size of the Indian American community in the past two decades – Indian American population grew from 815,000 in 1990 to 4.50 million in 2013. Most successful shows launched in the past five years feature a prominent Indian actor: “The Office,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “30 Rock,” “Chuck,” and “Parks and Recreation”.

    Brown Nation, directed by Abi Varghese, is currently being shot in New Jersey and has Indian actor Shenaz Treasurywala playing one of the lead roles. The comedy series depicts the everyday lives of south Asians living in America. The target market for Brown Nation is 18-45 year old Americans and NRIs. Recent comedy series such as The Office and Parks and Recreations have skewed to these age segments while casting a strong, universal appeal to all age groups.

    Indus Media recently announced its plans to launch a 50 million dollar entertainment fund to invest in films and television in American and south Indian market. With Balaji’s successful run in the film business, there could be more areas of synergy between the two partners especially the growing south Indian film market.

  • Sony gets on-board White Rivers Digital for BCL

    Sony gets on-board White Rivers Digital for BCL

    MUMBAI: What happens when reality television meets the passion of the nation, cricket? Giving viewers the combination of both, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) a few weeks back had announced its first ever sports reality show – Box Cricket League (BCL).

    Produced by Balaji Telefilms, the format is conceptualised by Marinating films’ Sunny Arora and Anand Mishra. They are also the co-owners of the show.

    As the name suggests, BCL features India’s top 150 TV celebrities divided in eight different city teams.

    Moreover, in order to generate the necessary buzz around the whole league, it has assigned the task to White Rivers Digital, a digital company which has established itself in the entertainment and lifestyle space. Via social media, it will help the audience get updated constantly and replicate the locker room drama on digital platforms innovatively.

    White Rivers Digital CEO Shrenik Gandhi believes that digital media is a great tool to connect with the viewers real time. “We are thrilled to curate the digital journey for India’s biggest sports realty show. It is an exciting challenge and great opportunity in itself. Digital Media is a great tool to connect with the viewers real time and we look forward to some great action & drama on field, off field and most importantly, online.’’

    Arora who is known for his unique ways of marketing and innovative ideas feels that BCL is a unique concept that will garner a lot of public attention and to increase their reach it is very important to strengthen their online presence.

    “BCL is a one of its kind idea that will give the audience a sneak peak of their favourite TV celebrities battling out the game of cricket in a Box. With White Rivers being our digital agency on board, we hope to build a strong digital foundation. With their expertise we hope to enhance engagement and brand experience for consumers. The team has shown some great ideas that will mobilise the online audience. We hope we can spread the BCL fire into the digital world as well,’’ he said.