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Tag: Siddharth Sharma

  • News18, Federal Bank and Tata Trusts launch ‘Sanjeevani’ to combat rising cancer cases in India

    News18, Federal Bank and Tata Trusts launch ‘Sanjeevani’ to combat rising cancer cases in India

    Mumbai: Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation, News 18 Network, and Tata Trusts, all three organisations renowned for their dedication to meaningful and impactful initiatives, will jointly unveil ‘Sanjeevani-United against cancer’. ‘Sanjeevani’ aims to raise awareness and encourage conversations around the silent cancer epidemic, and to alleviate fears that often accompany this disease. The collaborative effort seeks to drive positive sentiments towards early and consistent health tests, tumour management, and symptom recognition, all crucial aspects in the battle against cancer.

    Cancer’s prevalence as a significant health challenge persists, ranking among the leading causes of mortality. In India, the reluctance to address Cancer early is often rooted in fear and a lax attitude towards health. The common forms of cancer in the country include Breast Cancer, Oral Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Lung Cancer, and Colorectal Cancer. The Sanjeevani initiative focuses on empowering and supporting individuals to confront these fears and actively fight Cancer. The number of Cancer cases in the country is projected to go up from 14.6 Lakh in 2022 to 15.7 Lakh in 2025, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP). Moreover, on a global scale, 30 per cent of cancer patients lose their lives due to late-stage detection, while 70 per cent achieve a reprieve due to early detection facilitated by awareness. Unfortunately, this ratio is reversed in India.  It has become all the more urgent therefore to fight the social stigma surrounding it and counter the hesitancy around tests for early detection.

    Federal Bank MD and CEO Shyam Srinivasan commended the initiative, saying, “As we celebrate the remarkable success of the “Sanjeevani – A Shot Of Life” campaign which was aimed at addressing the fear and reluctance surrounding Covid Vaccines, our primary focus has evolved to proactive pursuits in healthcare, specifically combatting cancer through early detection. This time, through Sanjeevani 2.0, Federal Bank is focussing on the need to overcome nonchalance and dismissiveness around the possibility of Cancer affecting any of us. Cancer Screening needs to become an integral part of annual health checkups, which too need to be a disciplined activity. Given News18’s reach, we believe that a rise in awareness will increase testing or screening in our country. This should increase the ratio of survivors, which will be a hard-fought victory, with ongoing efforts. Having Tata Trusts as our knowledge partner helps us harness and be guided by their deep understanding of the terminal probabilities of Cancer. We at Federal Bank are honoured to collaborate with such venerable and compassionate partners in guiding Sanjeevani towards its Mission.”

    News18 Network and Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation together, with Tata Trusts as a knowledge partner, will launch the initiative during an event at The Oberoi in New Delhi on 27 Sep 2023. The event will be inaugurated in the presence of Dr Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Lisa Ray, a renowned actress, social activist, and cancer survivor. Esteemed personalities such as Amitabh Dube, MD, Novartis India, Padma Shri Dr. Rajendra Badwe, cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and film director Anurag Basu among others from diverse walks of life will join the ‘Sanjeevani’ movement, a beacon of hope in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for all battling the disease.

    Highlighting the barriers in the fight against cancer, Network18 Media & Investments Ltd  CEO – digital & president – corporate strategy Puneet Singhvi stated, “Anxiety and fear have acted as significant barriers in cancer detection among Indians, encompassing the concerns around its treatment, financial burden and repercussions on the family. However, numerous studies indicate that early detection can result in beating cancer and saving lives. With the launch of ‘Sanjeevani,’ our mission is to educate our audience and evangelize the benefits of early detection in the fight against cancer. The initiative in partnership with the Federal Bank Hormis Memorial and Tata Trusts is more than just a campaign; it is a movement towards driving awareness and making an impact in the fight against cancer. ‘Sanjeevani’ reaffirms our dedication to rewriting the fight against cancer narrative, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection, and underscoring the immeasurable value of health.”

    Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma added, “Committed to revolutionising cancer care across the country since 1941, Tata Trusts have been at the forefront of critical initiatives to advance accessible, affordable, and quality cancer treatment and care. Today, as we continue our fight against the surging cancer challenge, we are happy to associate, as knowledge partners, with ” Sanjeevani, United Against Cancer” – a purpose-driven initiative being launched by News18 Network to drive awareness around the disease and the importance of early detection. We hope that this endeavour will not only foster awareness and meaningful discussions about cancer but also effectively address the fears linked to the disease. Over time, these efforts may help to highlight the true value of “early cancer detection” which will significantly increase the chances of survival. Working together in a collaborative framework, the Trusts aim to continue driving positive change and overcoming social and economic barriers associated with cancer.”

    The introduction of the second season of Sanjeevani in collaboration with the Federal Bank Hormis Memorial and Tata Trusts marks yet another stride in this admirable journey. “Sanjeevani” is more than an initiative; it is a movement that will encourage informed discussions and drive awareness around cancer. By combating fears associated with this disease, the initiative intends to cultivate a proactive approach towards health tests and the management of symptoms, all of which are vital steps in the fight against cancer.

    New18, India’s largest news network has been at the forefront of impactful initiatives aimed at improving people’s lives and contributing to the progress of the nation. In partnership with like-minded brands, the network plays a pivotal role in shaping narratives and fostering discussions that propel cultural advancement. Through its influential projects like ‘Sustainable is Attainable with Tata Power’, ‘Mission Swachhta Aur Paani with Harpic’, ‘#CallItOut with Truecaller’, Netra Suraksha with Novartis, and ‘Period of Pride with P&G Whisper’. News 18 has brought together communities, policymakers, and businesses to drive change and make a positive impact.  The network’s commitment to social responsibility is evident in its consistent endeavours to encourage social justice and progress. Such initiatives play a significant role in shaping a better and healthier future for India. 

  • We are looking to broadbase appeal of LaLiga beyond key pockets: Viacom18’s Siddharth Sharma

    We are looking to broadbase appeal of LaLiga beyond key pockets: Viacom18’s Siddharth Sharma

    Mumbai: Last year, Viacom18 inked a deal with the Spanish football league, LaLiga. The new season kicked off last month. In an interaction with Indiantelevision.com, Viacom18 Sports head of content, TV and digital Siddharth Sharma said that the aim is to broadbase the appeal of LaLiga beyond the key pockets of Goa, Kerala and West Bengal.

    “Sports18 is the youngest sports network in the country. We have energy, enthusiasm and passion, and that is something that we also share with our partners like La Liga. It is undoubtedly one of the most admired and followed leagues in the world due to the track record that it has.”

    He added, “Football in the country has grown by 33 per cent over the three years from 2018–2021. La Liga has been an important contributor to that. Through our network, LaLiga reached over nine million fans, and we want to build on this further with the launch of our dedicated sports channel, Sports18. It will be our endeavour to take the league to a larger fan base across the country through our platforms. Sports18 is the primary destination for LaLiga. The aim is to give viewers the best possible viewing experience. Our intention is to get the fans excited and keep them excited. Our aim is to expand and make our sports portfolio robust, and LaLiga plays an important role in that.” 

    This also means going beyond the array of live football that happens. It is about shows like Goal’D. That is a take on football leagues and the movers and shakers.

    LaLiga, he said, has been one of the most giving partners that the broadcaster has had. They give access to footage of players. He explained that LaLiga also does cool technical stuff, which is something that Sports18 is able to leverage.

    Broadbasing football is something that the broadcaster is passionate about, he added, “We have to go beyond the key pockets. That is our focus. While we will address the core market that exists in terms of Kerala, West Bengal, Goa, and the Northeast, there is an attempt to broadbase football consumption across other markets that have a lot of headroom for growth.”

    “We will, in our endeavour to teach out to these markets, do a lot of work there with La Liga to widen the funnel there and get sports fans to engage with football. We educate them about the sport, about football players, and get them involved in the various levels of storytelling that we have to do. LaLiga is the frontrunner in our efforts to broadbase the sport due to the access that they give us to their immense library and the media hub that they have,” he said in response to a question from Indiantelevision.com.

    Talking about non-live content, he said it is a very important component. During live action, there is action, but non-live shoulder programming helps serve the core fan cohorts. “We can give them a behind-the-scenes look, nuanced approaches to set pieces of games that happen, the technical and strategic play that happens within a match. We dissect, analyse it and bring it to the viewers because it offers more time, the ability to look at these instances in a game and present them to fans. It is an immense opportunity, and we take a lot of pride in non-live programming because that takes us closer to the fans. We would also not be averse to giving fans a voice through this programming. We are having discussions with LaLiga on how to take this forward.”

    He said that the Fifa World Cup that the broadcaster will air later in the year is a milestone event in the broadcaster’s commitment to the sport. “We are looking to offer a differentiated experience. There will be a paradigm shift in terms of how the event is presented. We will engage our core viewers as well as intenders who we want to turn into core viewers. We will offer an unparalleled experience on Fifa that has never been seen in the country. The fan has to be the fulcrum of everything that we do. The fan has to be at the centre of everything that we do. The fan has converted to the sport or the team or the league. Fans have different identities, associations with the game. It is incumbent on us to serve them in the best possible manner.” 

    He also noted that core fans, non-core fans, and intenders watch football matches differently. The aim is to excite these audiences sitting at various ends of the viewership spectrum. The aim is to keep the core fan base intact and to move the intenders towards the core and to bring the floaters, or light viewers, into the middle of the value chain. “That is the idea,” he told Indiantelevision.com.

    He stated that the broadcaster’s goal with LaLiga and other soccer properties is to provide a 360-degree experience that allows fans to engage with the sport in the way that they want. In terms of having football content beyond English for LaLiga, he said that other languages like Hindi, Bangla, and Malayalam will play a role in the journey. Language commentary will be offered. For LaLiga, it is looking at putting a few key matches like El Classico next month on Sports18 Khel, the FTA channel. This, he said, accords a lot of headroom because that is an underserved audience.

    The other football properties the broadcaster has deals with for LaLiga and the Fifa World Cup 2022 are Serie A and Ligue 1. It also airs the local tournament, the Durand Cup. “It is the oldest football league in Asia. Our announcement contributes to widening the funnel of the football fan. The level of football and the level of sportsmanship have gone up tremendously. But there is a lot of scope for growth that we are working towards. There is a sizable interest in the Durand Cup that we are seeing.”

    One of the things that LaLiga India MD Jose Antonio Cachaza pointed out was that many matches in La Liga have Asia and India-friendly timings. That is not the case with some of the other football properties, like the Uefa Champions League, where matches sometimes start at 1:30 am. He added that LaLiga has seen a healthy increase in broadcast rights revenue globally. It earns around 900 million euros a year from global broadcast rights.

    “That is because we provide an asset that broadcasters can exploit all year around. International revenue has been steadily growing. In any country, our aim is to be the second most popular league, behind the local league. In India, that means being second after the ISL.” One of LaLiga’s aims globally is to have a better digital offering.

    The ElClasico, which pits FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the most high-profile club match in world football, returns on the weekend of 15 October, while the Seville, Barcelona, and Basque derbies follow in November, December, and January, respectively.

    Games such as these, Cachaza explained, are a big factor in why LaLiga is the most followed domestic football league on social media, with over 160 million fans all over the world enjoying LaLiga content in 20 different languages across 17 different platforms. But LaLiga is also leading the way in digital outreach for international fans with Play LaLiga. This LaLiga claims the only self-produced TikTok show by a European league; the creation of the first-ever mini-app on Alipay for Chinese fans; and the launch in Indonesia and Thailand of LaLiga Pass, a self-developed OTT offering all LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank matches for fans on demand, among many other initiatives.

    The 2022/23 season kick-off also marks a crucial moment for LaLiga off the pitch. Clubs across LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank are looking to take a giant step forward in their development and growth thanks to Boost LaLiga, a large-scale two billion euro investment project made possible by LaLiga’s agreement with investment fund CVC in December 2021. Clubs are already working across the board on ambitious development plans in areas such as strategy and business, infrastructure, international, brand and product development, digitalisation, and tech innovation, among others.

    Meanwhile, LaLiga Tech, the LaLiga subsidiary which offers technological and innovative solutions, continues to expand its business in over 50 countries with companies from multiple industries, including broadcasters, federations, and leagues. LaLiga Tech aims to transform the sports and entertainment sector with the design and implementation of OTT services, applications, games, websites, fan engagement, the improvement and protection of content, and competition management. World Padel Tour, Millicom, Sky Mexico, and MotoGP rights holders Dorna are just a few of the organisations that have already adopted LaLiga Tech’s tech solutions to digitise their operations. 

    Cachaza also mentioned the fact that LaLiga and Galaxy Racer (GXR), the Dubai-based transmedia multinational, have signed a Letter of Intent paving the way for the formation of a 15-year JV. The aim is to transform the sports league’s brand presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the Indian subcontinent.

    GXR, founded in 2019 by Group CEO Paul Roy, is the largest esports, gaming, and lifestyle organisation in the world with a presence in the Mena region, North America, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Europe. The JV positions GXR as LaLiga’s local partner in the MENA market and the Indian subcontinent, setting up a first in the world of sports rights in the territories which is projected to yield over three billion euros in revenue. Following the signing of the letter of intent, the parties entered an exclusive period to conclude contract details and the establishment of the JV. As agreed in the letter of intent, LaLiga and GXR will each hold a 50 per cent stake in the new JV. The JV will offer LaLiga new avenues and opportunities to increase brand presence across a key target region that is one of the youngest on the planet, with more than 1.3 billion people aged under 30. Furthermore, the joint venture will serve as the media rights agency for broadcast and media rights in Mena and the Indian subcontinent. 

    The deal provides LaLiga with a pathway to share its intellectual property (IP) through a local partner already offering considerable market reach—GXR has over 500 million followers worldwide—and a platform for growth that leverages expertise in six key verticals: licensing, content creation, esports, influencer and talent management, merchandising, and music.

  • Sports18 Khel announces non-live offerings with five new shows

    Sports18 Khel announces non-live offerings with five new shows

    Mumbai: Viacom18 Sports’ free-to-air Sports18 Khel has expanded its content offerings with five new non-live shows airing every weeknight at 8 p.m. The archive-footage-based shows offer viewers compelling stories about famous rivalries, revered heroes, sporting dynasties, and seminal moments.

    Viacom18 Sports head of content Siddharth Sharma said, “The content line-up reiterates our commitment to make sports easily accessible and expand the genre’s consumption among this audience.”

    “Each show is unique, and the narrative is customised to engage the viewers further and educate them about these fascinating stories,” he added.

    Woh Lamhe is a series that takes viewers through the stories behind some of the most iconic images that captured a seminal moment in sports history. It premiered on 17 August.

    Another show, Shortlist, focuses on the most memorable sporting moments, such as comebacks, greatest debuts, sports dynasties, and so on, every Thursday.

    Fans can watch Dhaakad every Friday night, a show that tells the stories of their favourite sports heroes.

    In addition, on every Monday night, the show Sports Ka Sikander celebrates the careers of the greatest names in sports, a mix of athletes and coaches who have etched their names in history all time.

    Takkar will relive some of the sport’s most heated rivalries on Tuesday. Whether it’s India vs. Pakistan in cricket, Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal in tennis, or Ferrari vs. Mercedes in Formula One, the show has fans covered if they want to relive the excitement, heartbreak, and thrill of these rivalries.

    The channel is also live-broadcasting the 131st edition of the Durand Cup. On 17 August, Jungle Rumble, a boxing night that featured Olympic Bronze medalist Vijender Singh’s winning comeback to the ring after a year, was also broadcast live on the channel.

  • Viacom18 appoints Siddharth Sharma as EVP – sports

    Viacom18 appoints Siddharth Sharma as EVP – sports

    Mumbai: Viacom18 has appointed Siddharth Sharma as executive vice president (EVP) – sports.

    Previously, Sharma was with The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Sports network as senior vice president. He joined Star Sports as AVP in 2013 and was elevated to the position of vice president – head of Kabaddi (content and production) in 2015. “As I end my 8.5 years journey at Star Sports, I reflect with humility and thank my mentors, co-conspirators and team members who have massively contributed in making my work look good,” Sharma wrote in a LinkedIn post.

    Prior to Star Network, Sharma worked with ABP News as sports editor for almost 11 years. His past stints also include Zee News.

    Viacom18 is looking to expand its presence in the sports broadcasting segment. The media and entertainment network recently announced a multi-year partnership with The National Basketball Association (NBA) to deliver live NBA games and programming to fans in India across television and over-the-top streaming.

    NBA, Viacom18 announce multi-year broadcast and streaming partnership in India

    Viacom18 is building its team ahead of the launch of its first sports channel.

  • Shaadi.com’s ex-CTO Siddharth Sharma onboards with InVideo

    Shaadi.com’s ex-CTO Siddharth Sharma onboards with InVideo

    NEW DELHI: Online video editing platform InVideo has appointed Siddharth Sharma as its new chief technology officer. An IIM alumnus, Sharma has contributed to the growth of several start-ups and big brands in his career. His latest stint was in matchmaking portal Shaadi.com.

    InVideo CEO Sanket Shah said, “We are building the best tech team in India. With SVS coming in, I’m looking forward to a rock-solid tech team and culture.”

    Sharma said, “I am really excited to become a part of this team. InVideo is solving a very hard technical problem in a blue ocean space. The startup energy is unbeatable and coupled with the rigour of the process, it makes for very thrilling engineering and to lead this team is a great privilege. I am humbled with this opportunity and look forward to contributing to InVideo’s skyrocketing growth.”

    He added, “I believe that people in the trenches should be fully autonomous, able to take decisions that align with the company’s goals by serving the user better. And it’s the job of leadership to set the context, the guardrails, and then get out of the way.”

    The development comes after the brand launched a unique hiring initiative that featured popular stand-up comic Rahul Subramanian. In probably a first, InVideo leveraged LinkedIn’s algorithm to reach out to engineers from all over the country. 

  • Prakash Jha’s ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’ gets U/A certificate

    Prakash Jha’s ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’ gets U/A certificate

    MUMBAI: The latest comedy film under the highly reputed Prakash Jha productions entitled ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’ has been granted a U/A certificate by the Film Censor Board of India without a single cut.
     

    This film which is about a dysfunctional Beri family stars an ensemble cast which includes Swanand Kirkire, Shilpa Shukla, Kushal Punjabi, Siddharth Sharma, Ninad Kamat and Nora Fatehi.

     

    The director of the upcoming comedy Ritesh Menon said, “When you try something new and your vision and voice is respected by the Censor board or any other governing body it is very reassuring. The film’s intent is to send out a positive message about modern day relationships and ultimately is to entertain. I am glad the audience will watch exactly what we have made. “

     

    This family film is slated for release on 16 January 2015.