ITV

Tag: Sameer Rao

  • ABP Network appoints Sameer Rao as CEO of ABP Creations

    ABP Network appoints Sameer Rao as CEO of ABP Creations

    Mumbai: ABP Network has appointed Sameer Rao as chief executive officer (CEO) of its content production arm ABP Creations. He will be operating from ABP Network’s Mumbai office.

    Rao is a seasoned media and entertainment professional, with wide-ranging experience of two decades across television, film, and digital platforms.

    Sameer is a well-regarded senior Indian media and entertainment industry professional with strong expertise in conceptualization, development, and execution of original content. He has formerly worked at YouTube, STAR India, Discovery Communications, Vinod Chopra Films, and UTV Motion Pictures in managerial and leadership roles. Moreover, Sameer holds a PGDBM from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.

    In the recent past, ABP Studios has shown tremendous potential with its co-produced and critically acclaimed Marathi feature film, “Karkhanisanchi Waari” (Ashes on a Road Trip) which has been streaming exclusively on SonyLiv. The film was nominated into eight categories for the prestigious Marathi Filmfare Awards of which it won three Filmfare Awards including awards for ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Director’, and ‘Best Supporting Actor Female’. It also had eight nominations for the Maharashtra Times Sanman Awards (MATA) and three wins. “Karkhanisanchi” was selected for the Cannes content market as well, as one of the films that the government used to showcase as an exemplary work in the Marathi cinema.

    “Say Yes to the Dress”, another ABP Studios production, streaming on Discovery Plus, has also been a hit among the audience. The series is an Indian adaptation of the American reality TV series by the same name that gives the audience an exceptional chance to experience the glitz and glamour of it all, as celebrated stylists try to get the brides say ‘yes’ to the elusive dress, whilst making it an intimate, poignant, and memorable experience for the audiences. ABP Studios was hand-picked by Discovery International to produce this runaway hit format for the Indian subcontinent.

    Within a year ABP Studios has bagged an impressive line-up of clients which includes Facebook, Google, Universal, SonyLiv, Hoichoi, Star Pravah, Discovery Plus and National Geographic. In 2022, ABP Studios is excited about developing and presenting content from its recent acquisitions in adventure, horror, and crime drama genres.

    ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey said “We are pleased to welcome Sameer Rao to the ABP Network family. We are certain that with his expertise and accomplishments, he will take ABP Creations. to greater heights. In this dynamic period of digital growth, his vision will perfectly align with our goals for ABP Creations. I believe that over time, his knowledge, and ingenuity will further contribute to the organization’s success.”

  • Discovery Jeet signs content deal with Netflix

    Discovery Jeet signs content deal with Netflix

    MUMBAI: The upcoming bull in the competitive general entertainment channel (GEC) space, Discovery Jeet, has already signed up with Netflix as its exclusive global OTT platform, even before the channel has launched. The deal will ensure that Jeet’s marquee content will be available to audiences in more than 190 countries worldwide. 

    Netflix viewers can binge-watch all Discovery Jeet shows after they have aired. Discovery Communications India SVP and GM Karan Bajaj revealed that the major idea behind the tie up was the similarity in philosophy regarding differentiated content. The other reason was Netflix’s global reach, which would be ideal for Jeet’s content to reach the vast diaspora. It also adds more screen on which the network’s content will be viewed. 

    Discovery’s partnership with Netflix comes almost a month after the broadcaster announced the launch of four niche digital channels (in partnership with video streaming platforms YouTube, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Play).

    Bajaj considers Discovery as a strong leader in the digital infotainment space and wants to develop very passionate niche communities.

    In an earlier interaction with Indiantelevision.com, Bajaj said that the channel’s focus is on ‘perception selling’. With premium and purposeful content, Jeet will scrape a good chunk of the creamy layer. He said, “The context of the show where you advertise is at times strikingly in contrast to what the brand stands for. So, to get scale, advertisers have no other option.” However, he says that Jeet will allow brands to flourish by not only providing them with scale but also premium content that matches the brand philosophy. Thus, the channel’s target is to net this top layer of India’s TV consumers.

    At present, Discovery operates 12 factual entertainment channels in India, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery HD World, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Kids and sports channel Dsport.

    Starting 12 February 2018, the channel will launch with five hours of programming band daily, out of which three hours will be ground-up original programming built on the thesis of the underdog emerging as the winner, available in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages.

    Discovery plans to focus on mass and premium audiences in India. As part of the plan, Jeet, and kids channel Discovery Kids will target the mass audience, while to tap the premium audience segment, which is shifting towards digital platforms for content consumption, the network is planning to launch multiple theme-based digital channels.  

    Discovery Communications India VP head of mass entertainment-South Asia Sameer Rao said, “Discovery Jeet’s differentiation comes from our lineup of dramatic, compelling stories of real, relatable characters presented in a cinematic, larger than life format. It is a representation of a strong emotion of ‘hai mumkin’ which is palpable in tier II and III towns across the country.”

    While Discovery has completed two decades of operations in India, its focus was on factual entertainment only. However, under the new leadership, the company has decided to significantly scale up the investment as it has set an ambitious target of making India one of the top three fastest growing markets with entry into new genres.

    Discovery Jeet’s marketing campaign will focus on key tentpole properties Swami Ramdev: Ek Sangharsh, 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897 and Mere Papa Hero Hiralal capturing the insurmountable odds that the protagonists had to overcome in their lives to achieve success.

    Also Read:

    Video consumption by premium audience on digital exploding: Karan Bajaj

    Discovery Jeet gears up for Feb 12 launch

    Discovery launching Hindi GEC in Q4, re-brands ID as Discovery Jeet

  • Discovery to premiere ‘Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan’ from 2 Feb

    Discovery to premiere ‘Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan’ from 2 Feb

    MUMBAI: Experienced a war like a solider? With its new series “Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan” will bring viewers into the hearts and minds of soldiers, a captivating experience like nothing ever seen on film. For the first-time ever audience with an inside-look at the Afghanistan War from the perspective of four members of the 101st Airborne deployed to Combat Outpost Michigan. The series uses footage taken directly from the soldiers’ helmet and body cameras. Discovery’s five-part series will air one episode per week. It will premiere Thursday February 2 at 10 pm.

    “Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan” is the story of a band of brothers deployed to defend one of the United States’ farthest flung outposts at the gateway to one of the deadliest places on earth: the mouth of the Taliban-held Korengal Valley in Northeast Afghanistan. Told by the men who fought on the frontlines themselves and illustrated with real combat footage shot on helmet cameras and handy cams, this material never-before-seen on television takes viewers along for a visceral experience not witnessed in news reports or traditional documentary portrayals of war.

    Commenting on the series, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific – Real World Entertainment VP Sameer Rao said, “Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan” is a war as never seen before. The footage these soldiers brought back, charts an extraordinary first-eye view of modern warfare in one of the deadliest places on earth.”

    It is not simply a series of war stories, but a character-driven serial, showing the impact of war on a handful of men during the course of their year on the frontlines. Presented through the eyes of four American soldiers, Kyle Boucher, J.J. McCool, Kyle Petry and Ken Shriver, their unmediated rushes reveal personal struggles with the dilemmas, confusions, joys and sorrows of war. The men leave the United States seeking adventure, inspired to serve their country. What they experience in Afghanistan changes them forever. In flashes forward to their lives six years on, the men reflect on their year in the Korengal. Now, with their partners who waited anxiously for the safe return of their sweethearts, these soldiers reunite. For some, it’s their chance to lay old ghosts to rest.

  • Discovery to premiere ‘Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan’ from 2 Feb

    Discovery to premiere ‘Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan’ from 2 Feb

    MUMBAI: Experienced a war like a solider? With its new series “Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan” will bring viewers into the hearts and minds of soldiers, a captivating experience like nothing ever seen on film. For the first-time ever audience with an inside-look at the Afghanistan War from the perspective of four members of the 101st Airborne deployed to Combat Outpost Michigan. The series uses footage taken directly from the soldiers’ helmet and body cameras. Discovery’s five-part series will air one episode per week. It will premiere Thursday February 2 at 10 pm.

    “Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan” is the story of a band of brothers deployed to defend one of the United States’ farthest flung outposts at the gateway to one of the deadliest places on earth: the mouth of the Taliban-held Korengal Valley in Northeast Afghanistan. Told by the men who fought on the frontlines themselves and illustrated with real combat footage shot on helmet cameras and handy cams, this material never-before-seen on television takes viewers along for a visceral experience not witnessed in news reports or traditional documentary portrayals of war.

    Commenting on the series, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific – Real World Entertainment VP Sameer Rao said, “Taking Fire – Live from Afghanistan” is a war as never seen before. The footage these soldiers brought back, charts an extraordinary first-eye view of modern warfare in one of the deadliest places on earth.”

    It is not simply a series of war stories, but a character-driven serial, showing the impact of war on a handful of men during the course of their year on the frontlines. Presented through the eyes of four American soldiers, Kyle Boucher, J.J. McCool, Kyle Petry and Ken Shriver, their unmediated rushes reveal personal struggles with the dilemmas, confusions, joys and sorrows of war. The men leave the United States seeking adventure, inspired to serve their country. What they experience in Afghanistan changes them forever. In flashes forward to their lives six years on, the men reflect on their year in the Korengal. Now, with their partners who waited anxiously for the safe return of their sweethearts, these soldiers reunite. For some, it’s their chance to lay old ghosts to rest.

  • Discovery’s ‘Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills’ wins at Asian Television Academy

    Discovery’s ‘Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills’ wins at Asian Television Academy

    MUMBAI: Discovery India’s production Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills has won the Best Natural History / Wildlife Programme at the prestigious Asian Television Academy Awards 2016, held in Singapore.

    Produced by Robin Roy Films, Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills combines state-of-the-art technology and sophisticated techniques to show leopards’ behaviour like never before.

    “This recognition reflects Discovery’s ingenious and differentiated approach to connect and entertain the discerning Indian viewer. The programme captures rarely-seen-before behaviour of the leopards and urges audience to rethink about the future of these dangerous yet vulnerable species,” said Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific South Asia vice president – real world products Sameer Rao.

    The one-hour programme documents the astonishing story of the co-existence of nature’s two different creations – leopards and human beings. Situated in the heart of Rajasthan’s untrammeled wilderness is Jawai, a land shaped by lava that bubbled to the surface millions of years ago. But that’s not what makes this place special. The granite hills surrounding human settlements have been claimed by the wild leopards and these leopards are living with the humans for years in perfect harmony.

    Asian Television Awards is the Asian TV industry’s most significant and celebrated event, recognising excellence in programming, production and performance. Determined by an expert panel of over 60 judges from across the region, the awards uphold a prestigious reputation of showcasing quality television production.

  • Discovery’s ‘Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills’ wins at Asian Television Academy

    Discovery’s ‘Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills’ wins at Asian Television Academy

    MUMBAI: Discovery India’s production Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills has won the Best Natural History / Wildlife Programme at the prestigious Asian Television Academy Awards 2016, held in Singapore.

    Produced by Robin Roy Films, Jawai: India’s Leopard Hills combines state-of-the-art technology and sophisticated techniques to show leopards’ behaviour like never before.

    “This recognition reflects Discovery’s ingenious and differentiated approach to connect and entertain the discerning Indian viewer. The programme captures rarely-seen-before behaviour of the leopards and urges audience to rethink about the future of these dangerous yet vulnerable species,” said Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific South Asia vice president – real world products Sameer Rao.

    The one-hour programme documents the astonishing story of the co-existence of nature’s two different creations – leopards and human beings. Situated in the heart of Rajasthan’s untrammeled wilderness is Jawai, a land shaped by lava that bubbled to the surface millions of years ago. But that’s not what makes this place special. The granite hills surrounding human settlements have been claimed by the wild leopards and these leopards are living with the humans for years in perfect harmony.

    Asian Television Awards is the Asian TV industry’s most significant and celebrated event, recognising excellence in programming, production and performance. Determined by an expert panel of over 60 judges from across the region, the awards uphold a prestigious reputation of showcasing quality television production.

  • Discovery appoints FremantleMedia’s Monisha Jaising Vaid

    Discovery appoints FremantleMedia’s Monisha Jaising Vaid

    MUMBAI: Discovery Networks is on a hiring spree. In its endeavour to accelerate growth and embrace opportunities beyond linear, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has now appointed Monisha Jaising Vaid as the director of original content for real world products. She joins from FremantleMedia India TV Productions where she served as the senior creative director and consultant for almost eight years.

    Senior executives Sameer Rao and SVP head of products Nikhil Madhok are the other recent hires.

    Vaid will be based in Mumbai and will report to Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific vice-president real world products – South Asia Sameer Rao.

    She will curate home-grown concepts, identifying formats, localizing for India, pitching to broadcasters, supervising pre and post sales, brand integrations, show production for Discovery’s Real World product suite which includes Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Tamil, Discovery HD World and Animal Planet HD World.

    Experienced in content creation, project management, creative strategy for brands and broadcasters, partner tie-ups and discovering new content opportunities, Vaid is a veteran in the media and entertainment professional.

    She has the ability to ideate cross-platform with a successful background in non-fiction, international formats, magazine format, reality, talent, fiction and digital. She has been a part of various projects like, international formats: Indian Idol , India’s Got Talent , X Factor; indigenous formats: Mission Covershot , Nat Geo Covershot Maximum city; regional formats: Amra na Ora , Amar Bor Superstar; digital : Opening up Fremantlemedia India as a digital fiction player with Confessions – It’s Complicated.

  • Discovery appoints FremantleMedia’s Monisha Jaising Vaid

    Discovery appoints FremantleMedia’s Monisha Jaising Vaid

    MUMBAI: Discovery Networks is on a hiring spree. In its endeavour to accelerate growth and embrace opportunities beyond linear, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has now appointed Monisha Jaising Vaid as the director of original content for real world products. She joins from FremantleMedia India TV Productions where she served as the senior creative director and consultant for almost eight years.

    Senior executives Sameer Rao and SVP head of products Nikhil Madhok are the other recent hires.

    Vaid will be based in Mumbai and will report to Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific vice-president real world products – South Asia Sameer Rao.

    She will curate home-grown concepts, identifying formats, localizing for India, pitching to broadcasters, supervising pre and post sales, brand integrations, show production for Discovery’s Real World product suite which includes Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Tamil, Discovery HD World and Animal Planet HD World.

    Experienced in content creation, project management, creative strategy for brands and broadcasters, partner tie-ups and discovering new content opportunities, Vaid is a veteran in the media and entertainment professional.

    She has the ability to ideate cross-platform with a successful background in non-fiction, international formats, magazine format, reality, talent, fiction and digital. She has been a part of various projects like, international formats: Indian Idol , India’s Got Talent , X Factor; indigenous formats: Mission Covershot , Nat Geo Covershot Maximum city; regional formats: Amra na Ora , Amar Bor Superstar; digital : Opening up Fremantlemedia India as a digital fiction player with Confessions – It’s Complicated.

  • Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    MUMBAI: Sameer Rao, who was the creative director at UTV Studios in Mumbai, will be joining Discovery Channel, the flagship network of Discovery Communications, in a senior position this week. A source confirmed the news of Rao’s move to one of the most dynamic networks on television which is devoted to creating quality non-fiction programming.

    Although the alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, is reportedly joining Discovery formally on 25 November, his official designation could not be confirmed.

    It was later made official that Rao joined as vice-president – real world products, south Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

    Prior to joining UTV in May last year where he conceptualised, ideated and developed scripts with screenwriters and directors, did cost/revenue analysis before approving feature film projects and oversaw pre-production, production, post-production and marketing of Hindi feature films, Rao worked with the acclaimed writer-director-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s production company for over four years since November 2010 as the business head for films such as ‘3 Idiots’, Munna Bhai series and P.K.

    Before joining Chopra, Rao invested over six years in Star India from January 2005 to November 2010, starting as an assistant vice-president and rising up to the level of general manager, where his responsibilities included management of the overall channel team involved in acquisition of movies, programming of slots, marketing and promotion and working with the ad sales team on revenue maximisation.

    The trained chartered accountant was, earlier, the associate director at KPMG for two years. Later, he worked as a consultant to Arthur Anderson and then as the UBS AG manager.

  • Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    MUMBAI: Sameer Rao, who was the creative director at UTV Studios in Mumbai, will be joining Discovery Channel, the flagship network of Discovery Communications, in a senior position this week. A source confirmed the news of Rao’s move to one of the most dynamic networks on television which is devoted to creating quality non-fiction programming.

    Although the alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, is reportedly joining Discovery formally on 25 November, his official designation could not be confirmed.

    It was later made official that Rao joined as vice-president – real world products, south Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

    Prior to joining UTV in May last year where he conceptualised, ideated and developed scripts with screenwriters and directors, did cost/revenue analysis before approving feature film projects and oversaw pre-production, production, post-production and marketing of Hindi feature films, Rao worked with the acclaimed writer-director-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s production company for over four years since November 2010 as the business head for films such as ‘3 Idiots’, Munna Bhai series and P.K.

    Before joining Chopra, Rao invested over six years in Star India from January 2005 to November 2010, starting as an assistant vice-president and rising up to the level of general manager, where his responsibilities included management of the overall channel team involved in acquisition of movies, programming of slots, marketing and promotion and working with the ad sales team on revenue maximisation.

    The trained chartered accountant was, earlier, the associate director at KPMG for two years. Later, he worked as a consultant to Arthur Anderson and then as the UBS AG manager.