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Tag: Sony Pictures Networks India

  • Sony YAY! honours role models – Kher, Phogat, Shiamak and Birju Maharaj on Teacher’s Day

    Sony YAY! honours role models – Kher, Phogat, Shiamak and Birju Maharaj on Teacher’s Day

    MUMBAI: A mentor, a guide, a confidante, a friend — a teacher plays a significant roles in shaping a child’s identity and helping him realise their dreams. Though we celebrate every Teacher’s Day with our mentors, recognising and thanking the people who are key in helping our country grow is imperative too. Without them, we wouldn’t be celebrated for our achievements worldwide, neither would we have people we now consider as our heroes.

    So, this Teacher’s Day, Sony Pictures Networks India’s (SPN) kid’s entertainment channel – Sony YAY! has taken upon itself the onus to commemorate the energy and efforts of our teachers as they shape the biggest role models of this country.

    The channel’s most loved characters, Prince Jai and Dumdaar Viru, honoured the real heroes for their effort and for giving the country some of their most revered champions.

    One of the people acknowledged by Sony YAY! was Mahavir Singh Phogat, the man of steel behind the heroic success of his daughters, Geeta and Babita Phogat who have become India’s most renowned female wrestlers, bringing India unprecedented glory.

    Ace choreographer, Shiamak Davar, who trained over a million of students since he started his journey over two decades back has given the country dancing stars like Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Sushant Singh Rajput and many more. Shiamak has led his students to represent India at prestigious platforms like the Commonwealth Games amongst others making him the finest dance guru the country has seen till date.

    Amongst these heroes, Shaheen Mistri was recognized as well. An Indian social activist and educator, she is the founder of the Akanksha Foundation, an Indian educational initiative in Mumbai and Pune, and is also the CEO of Teach For India, helping children of the country grow and helping them follow their dreams.

    Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awardee Anupam Kher, credited with leading one of India’s biggest acting schools, was commemorated for mentoring and honing the talent of some of India’s biggest superstars including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan to name a few.

    One of the most revered Indian classical dancer and teacher, Pandit Birju Maharaj was also felicitated as the part of the campaign for his unfaltering efforts for over six decades in teaching the classical dance form of Kathak to students in the country and across the world including celebrities like Madhuri Dixit, Deepika Padukone and others.

    SPN kids genre business head Leena Lele Dutta said, “We, at Sony YAY!, want to be the ultimate happiness destination for kids, on television and beyond. The idea of ‘Heroes behind the Heroes’ stemmed from this thought of spreading joy not only to kids but encourage them to pass it on to people who shape their lives. Through this unique initiative, we want to thank all teachers, who are the true backbone of the nation, for all the time and effort they have put in to bring out the greatness in all their students. On this Teacher’s Day, we’re thanking the teachers who have helped make our favorite people who they are today.”

    Davar said: “I thank Sony YAY! for this lovely award that’s been given to me and I’m very happy to be honoured with this because as a teacher, I’m so happy that Shahid, Sushant, Boman, Aishwarya and everybody who has been with me for so many years has really gone forward in their careers. So for me, it’s a very big honour and I’m very grateful. Thank you, Sony!”

    Kher said: “I’m very honoured to be presented this award, “Heroes Behind The Heroes” by Sony YAY!. It’s on a teacher’s day, I felt happy when Jai and Viru decided to give me this award. Teachers in any form are actual heroes because they produce so many heroes and it’s a thankless job because they need to create more and more stars or heroes and they remain there. This is a very fine award that Sony YAY! has given me.”

    Mistri says, “I was just feeling very inspired that we got an opportunity to receive this award. I think that the real hard work that goes into Teach for India is by our students and our kids and they have such big challenges and they work so hard so I think it is really beautiful recognition of that and also thank you as it’s just fun to meet the characters and they are so lovely. But I think for me the award or any award is more than anything else it’s just a reminder that we need to do so much more that’s such a long way ahead for our kids.”

    Pandit Birju Maharaj says, “Thank you so much and I felt really nice because I have spent my whole life teaching. It doesn’t matter what field you are in, according to me the position of a teacher is that of God. Since the start, I am teaching kids and I will always keep teaching them. I’m really happy to receive this award from Sony YAY! Channel.”

  • BBC Earth will help grow nascent factual entertainment space in India, feels Beebs

    With over 20+ years of experience across the media business in multiple countries and functions, BBC Worldwide SVP and GM SE and South Asia Myleeta Aga is the mastermind behind driving content, format and digital sales of the commercial arm. David Weiland, as EVP, BBC Worldwide Asia, is responsible for all of BBC’s businesses in Asia, stretching from India to Japan and China to Indonesia. Together, the duo is responsible for all the various businesses of BBC Worldwide in Asia.

    Soon after the launch of its BBC Earth channel in India in partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India, the two Beebs execs, in a tete-a-tete with Indiantelevision.com’s Megha Parmar in Mumbai, discussed at length the future strategies of BBC Worldwide in Asia, Sony BBC Earth channel, infotainment genre and the digital eco-system in India, apart from other aspects of the business. Edited excerpts from the interview:

    As SVP and GM SE and South Asia at BBC Worldwide, what are the various challenges in these diverse markets, Myleeta?

    It’s a great opportunity. BBC Worldwide is a content company and we look for different ways to share our content based on what our market and the consumers within it want. So, in this market, our primary business happens in production, in content sales and, of course, the JV with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). But, in South-East Asia (SEA), our primary business is in our linear channels and the BBC Player. These are both new areas for me. I am looking at some of the channels but not all across the markets. At the moment, I know some of the markets but about others I am still learning. So, there is a good mix of things that I have not done and am familiar with. However, I feel, I can hit the ground running. Every market in SEA is also different and unique.

    What is BBC Worldwide strategy for India and Asia?

    Myleeta: We have always taken a content approach in whatever we do. We have some iconic TV content that we sell to platforms and are increasingly selling more to digital OTT platforms. I am very much looking at that and building fan bases, maintaining them for our key program brands like `Doctor Who’ and `Sherlock’. Our production side too is doing very well. We have a full raft of productions in progress over the next one year. We are doing fiction, non-fiction, digital and branded content. So, we are working on building a full circuit production house and all of it is through a team that is built within the company. We are producing fiction, non-fiction, drama, etc and I think we have an expertise in all these genres now. Our production is very stable.

    David: We have made a change in the SEA market in the last 18 months where we launched BBC Earth, which effectively added to our portfolio. In terms of linear channels, we have BBC News, CBeebies, BBC Sport and we shut down BBC Entertainment. Certainly, in SEA we have launched a drama channel BBC First and a factual entertainment channel BBC Brit Digital. We have also launched BBC Player. I am a strong believer of linear channels. They are going to stay here and India is a proof of that. In this market you have linear channel launches all the time and there is still lot of space for growth. We want to continue in that way and also have a digital service that compliments and adds to it.

    As you have launched BBC Earth in India, what do you think about the infotainment genre here and what will the likely response to such a product?

    Myleeta: Unless we had seen a big opportunity for BBC earth, we would have not entered into a partnership with Sony. I think the factual entertainment genre has been very stagnant. I have seen Discovery’s growth 20 years ago from now when I was a part of it and there has been nothing disruptive, distinctive in the factual space for a really long time. So, I think BBC Earth will be welcomed by the audiences in India. The content is spectacular. The factual entertainment space in India is very nascent and there is a lot of room for it to grow.

    But, is it profitable in India? Do you see there is space for more players in the factual entertainment genre in India and how will BBC Earth differentiate itself from others?

    Myleeta: Yes, I think so. The genre is profitable in India. I am sure Sony will do a brilliant job in making our channel to profitability. There is still place for few more players in the space. Quality of storytelling is our biggest strength.

    David: We have launched this brand in a number of other markets and what we have observed is that the infotainment genre describes it quite well. What I think is that people are migrating towards reality-type genre and the premium factual entertainment space is being left behind a bit. I think we are filling that. And, when we look at the new type of technology that we are bringing into the genre, accompanied with new types of storytelling, it is really interesting. The other thing, particularly about young people, is that they are becoming more urban citizens obsessed with technology and have lost touch with what is happening here. Interestingly, the millennials are concerned about the Earth, state of the planet, science, and actually want to find a place where they can understand or connect emotionally with everything— but in a different way. BBC Earth’s content will be positive, young and will build an emotional connect to open people’s eyes.

    How is the channel fairing in 39 other markets?

    David: We have BBC Earth channels in South-East and North Asia. We launched it a year ago. We have been number one in four of the 12 months and in the other months we have been number two or three. The day we launched the channel was when we articulated our desire to be in the top three in the factual set and we are certainly doing it around the world. I think we have found that the brand and the content connect with the viewers.

    What’s the next launch about and when?

    David: We don’t have any concrete plans in the short term, but we are always looking at opportunities. Having this partnership in India will make us talk with Sony and others to figure out if there is anything else we need to do. We are quite agnostic in terms of our route to a market. It could be through licensing our content to one company or launching our own services or creating our services in partnerships. We look at all those opportunities, while remaining focused on our key brands. We have leadership abilities in three or four genres — premium factual, premium drama to some degree, pre-school kids and mass scale factual entertainment. We are focused and I think one should be in this global media environment.

    Content is crucial for any platform or channel’s success. Do you think that broadcasters in India are too content-driven?

    Myleeta: Yes, I do. I think the interpretations of content and perhaps the way they look at it maybe is different. They are all looking to win audiences through their content mix. I don’t think it’s a market where, for example, a brand like Star Plus will be able to attract audience, if they don’t have a hit show running.

    What do you think about the digital eco-system in India? How different is it in the global market?

    David: Digital space in India is certainly evolving. It is a challenge in terms of making money in SVoD service because you have to look at people’s desire and willingness to pay, apart from other issues like the level of piracy, price points in the Indian market and the fact that consumers are habitual to a single service that is not comprehensive. What might happen is that the market will get to the level where pay TV is today wherein you pay one bill and get a range of channels in the linear space. Why can’t it happen in the digital space? You pay one person and get a variety of apps. There are some interesting developments going on in this space. The model of Amazon channels in the US is worth looking at. On top of your (Amazon) Prime membership, you can add on additional services.

    Does BBC plan to launch an OTT platform in India?

    David: In the short term, no. But we don’t want to rule out anything. We have launched BBC Player in SEA. It is an authenticated on-demand service, which we have launched with our pay TV partners in Singapore and now in Malaysia. It offers linear channels and is downloadable for 30 days. We have also launched several other brands on the service. BBC First and Brit are now available on digital only. In the US, we have partnered with ITV to launch a British-focused SVoD OTT service called BritBox. In the UK, we have the BBC iPlayer, which is the longest catch-up service and is constantly being developed. There are many more markets in the world where we can completely run a payment-led OTT direct consumer service.

    I think there are opportunities where we can partner with telcos or platforms and we are open to that. India is a market we are looking at and studying, but don’t think we will ever launch a pure direct to consumer OTT in India due to several reasons. There are not many who have done it in India. There are technological issues — broadband roll-out is not that advanced and mobile network is not strong enough. Video and downloading content is a challenge except in certain metros. Still, BBC will be much more interested in doing a partnership with someone.

    As a production house, what is a more profitable business — pushing your content through different platforms or starting something of your own and put all the content there?

    Myleeta: We do both in SEA. We have content on our Player in Malaysia and Singapore but that does not mean we are not selling it to other digital OTT platforms.

    David: In some markets, it’s more profitable to do business to business deals, while in some others, it’s more profitable to license content to third parties. We are a content company with a difference — different from some of our global and US competitors. For them it becomes more challenging to think in a different way. We have always been a diversified business. We have different teams. The TV licensing team says `I must sell the show to a third party platform’. But, I have my BBC Player too. That team says `No, I want to put the show on the service too’. Now, I have to decide which one makes more sense. It’s good to have such choices.

    How important is audience measurement data for BBC?

    Myleeta: A small group of broad audience entertainment channels anywhere in the world are driven by numbers. That is because of the advertising revenue they depend on, which in return is dependent on eyeballs. As you get into more specialist areas, the brand becomes important as well. It’s not that you don’t need the numbers. But you can also look at the new segment of audience you are serving and how the brand resonates with that segment to attract advertisers that want a slice of that specific segment. I think our brand does resonate with advertisers of premium categories. So, I think the BARC numbers will be important for us, but won’t be everything.

    Digital rollout of Indian cable TV services is scheduled to be completed this March-end. Do you think this will boost the TV business in India?

    Myleeta: It will deliver more addressability. We are talking about being able to measure and recover revenues that get lost in the eco-system. So, will it suddenly change the ratings structure? No. But, will it increase revenue for platforms, which in turn will ease the burden of carriage fees on broadcasters? Yes.

    David: It’s a unique market and this (digital addressable services) serves it very well. There is nowhere TV is more entrenched than in India. Businesses here have liked it (digitization). But, I think, overtime it is going to get more in line with the rest of the world.

    BBC is like an old warhorse. What, according to you, does audience in India perceive BBC as?

    Myleeta: BBC Worldwide is the commercial arm of the BBC, a public service organization. The news channels and the journalistic organizations within the news channels are totally independent. BBC Worldwide only commercializes the channels, which is sales and distribution functions for the channel. But the channel is run independently. When we see BBC in this market and outside of the UK, one of the markets where the BBC brand resonates most is India. I think we all remember listening to World Service radio. So, we have been around for a long time. When people think of BBC, they think of news, both radio and TV. BBC Worldwide operates much more on the commercial side.

  • Sony BBC Earth to air 19 hrs of content every week, local programming on the cards

    MUMBAI: Feel alive with science, with technology, with nature, with stories, feel alive with Sony BBC Earth.

    A 75:25 joint venture (JV) between Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and BBC Worldwide, the channel is set to go live on 6 March at 8 pm with 19 hours of original programming every week.  The channel, in its initial phase, will target the urban mega cities constituting of 10 million towns. And is Available across all major DTH platforms and MSOs, in four languages- English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

    Promising to make the viewers ‘Feel Alive’ through its offering of quality  
    visuals, never-seen-before content, and positive insightful storytelling, the channel will introduce local programming in the country.

    As of yet, BBC Worldwide operates around 39 BBC Earth channels across the world, in India, for the first time, the channel is launching as a joint venture with SPN. Through the JV partnership, SPN will make the day-to-day decisions of the new channel.

    SPN CEO NP Singh said, “Sony Pictures Networks is known to create compelling and differentiated brands across all genres that it operates in. I am confident that this channel will be a major player in its category. A year down the line, I wish to see the channel in the top three list.”

    Singh refused to mention the two companies that he thought were in the race.

    The channel will bring award-winning, premium factual content from BBC to over 500 million of SPN’s viewers across India, and will feature some of the world’s famous factual film-makers and storytellers such as Sir David Attenborough – The Godfather of Natural History and other well-
    known BBC Earth personalities like Bafta-winning English naturalist, writer and television presenter Steve Backshall, author, broadcaster and writer, Ben Fogle, Dr Michael Mosley – a medical doctor and an award-winning science journalist as well as award-winning wildlife cameraman, presenter and film maker, Gordon Buchanan. As a key differentiator in its category, the channel will have defined programming slots – Why, How & What on Earth at 8 pm for fun and insightful science, Wild Wild Earth at 9 pm for nature and wildlife, and Earth Explorers at 10 pm for adventure and human interest stories.

    Weekends will showcase distinctive stories with a special slot; Earth Specials. Key launch shows include The Hunt, Where The Wild Men Are with Ben Fogle, Trust Me I’m A Doctor, Snow Chick and the iconic, greatly anticipated series, Planet Earth II amongst others.

    BBC Worldwide president – global markets Paul Dempsey asserted, “Our relationship with Sony has been a long one, built in the first instance on our production business, and one that has since grown across all key areas of BBC Worldwide’s operations. We partner with them to bring top programmes like Sherlock, Orphan Black and Top Gear on AXN to our fans in India, and now, this joint venture which is a pioneering model for us. By working with a respected local partner of the caliber of Sony Pictures Networks, we look forward to bringing BBC Earth’s world class content to a new audience who we know has a huge appetite for premium factual programming.”

    The channel has created a unique brand film with its Feel Alive ambassador Kareena Kapoor-Khan. The campaign will be launched on a massive scale across multiple mass media and social media platforms. Though, it has no advertisers on boards as of yet and are in the the process of locking few deals.

    SPN EVP and business head English Cluster Saurabh Yagnik added, “SPN’s philosophy is to create brands based on deep consumer understanding. We have worked extensively with viewers to sharpen our insights into what they want and have synergised this understanding with our compelling content and storytelling. Our brand positioning of ‘Feel Alive’ captures the emotion of subliminal happiness which viewers experience when they consume our content. We are getting a tremendously positive response from the advertisers and will be locking few of them in couple of weeks time.”

    The channel will primarily compete with powerful channels in the genre, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and History TV18, owned by a joint venture between A+E Networks and  TV18. The three channels are undergoing several programming changes by providing local, cutting edge content to the viewers.

    According to media pundits, the entire factual entertainment genre in India is valued at Rs 1500 crore (by revenue) and is continuously growing at the rate of 13-15 per cent annually. It’s entertainment viewership accounts for 1-1.2 per cent of the total television viewership market share.

    This partnership has definitely opened several doors for BBC making its way to the infotainment genre in India. Perhaps, the network may also consider launching its other channels – BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment, BBC Kids, etc, in India. What next does the network plan to do in the Indian market, only time will tell…

    Also Read :

    Sony BBC Earth gets regulatory approval, to launch in India soon

    BBC Worldwide’s factual entertainment successful in India

    Sony BBC Earth is just an approval away: NP Singh

    BBC Worldwide India: Women team makes fiction push

  • Sony to add 10 channels in 2017

    Sony to add 10 channels in 2017

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India’s new strategic decision is to add entertaining and engaging channels catering to a variety of viewers to its existing bouquet next year.

    Sony has been working on its plans to expand its portfolio by adding 10 new channels which will include five sports channels. The remainder will be divided between kids, music and infotainment genres. SPN India is awaiting regulatory approval.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Sony Pictures Networks CEO NP Singh said, “The company expanded its portfolio in 2016. New channels are coming in a few months”. Singh further added, “We are integrating five Ten Sports channels, HD music channel, kids channel and infotainment channel.”

    In the beginning of 2016, Sony added two channels — Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD to its sports bouquet in collaboration with ESPN. Later that year, SPN India launched its third movie channel — Sony Wah and also came up with Sony Le Plex, an English movie channel.

    In August 2016, the network announced a deal to acquire Ten Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) and its subsidiaries for US$ 385 million. The acquisition added South Asia’s leading sports network to SPN’s portfolio.

    The year seems to have been satisfying for Sony Pictures. Talking about the network’s flagship channel Sony Entertainment Television, Singh said, “The year has been good for the network. We have been able to successfully achieve leadership on weekends. Also, we have seen the audience accepting our fiction shows.” Singh added, “In the next six months, I am sure, we will see a surge in viewership on weekdays too. We climbed up from number six to three, and hope Sony will continue to grow from there.”

    The channel is bringing back the ninth season of one its iconic shows Indian Idol on 24 December.

  • Sony to add 10 channels in 2017

    Sony to add 10 channels in 2017

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India’s new strategic decision is to add entertaining and engaging channels catering to a variety of viewers to its existing bouquet next year.

    Sony has been working on its plans to expand its portfolio by adding 10 new channels which will include five sports channels. The remainder will be divided between kids, music and infotainment genres. SPN India is awaiting regulatory approval.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Sony Pictures Networks CEO NP Singh said, “The company expanded its portfolio in 2016. New channels are coming in a few months”. Singh further added, “We are integrating five Ten Sports channels, HD music channel, kids channel and infotainment channel.”

    In the beginning of 2016, Sony added two channels — Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD to its sports bouquet in collaboration with ESPN. Later that year, SPN India launched its third movie channel — Sony Wah and also came up with Sony Le Plex, an English movie channel.

    In August 2016, the network announced a deal to acquire Ten Sports Network from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) and its subsidiaries for US$ 385 million. The acquisition added South Asia’s leading sports network to SPN’s portfolio.

    The year seems to have been satisfying for Sony Pictures. Talking about the network’s flagship channel Sony Entertainment Television, Singh said, “The year has been good for the network. We have been able to successfully achieve leadership on weekends. Also, we have seen the audience accepting our fiction shows.” Singh added, “In the next six months, I am sure, we will see a surge in viewership on weekdays too. We climbed up from number six to three, and hope Sony will continue to grow from there.”

    The channel is bringing back the ninth season of one its iconic shows Indian Idol on 24 December.

  • El Clasico among most viewed global annual sporting events, says Sony’s Rajesh Kaul

    El Clasico among most viewed global annual sporting events, says Sony’s Rajesh Kaul

    MUMBAI: Spain’s leading football league La Liga’s official broadcasters in India — Sony Pictures Networks India president, distribution and sports Rajesh Kaul has said that El Clasico was among the most viewed annual sporting events in the world and they enabled football fans who could not watch the match live at Barcelona’s Camp Nou, an opportunity to experience one of the most heavily anticipated games of the season with football legends, Luis Garcia and Frederic Kanoute.

    La Liga, which launched its India office in New Delhi recently, screened in Delhi and Mumbai European-style live match between FC Barcelona & Real Madrid CF, popularly called the ‘E l Clasico.

    Meanwhile, a number of Europe’s major leagues, including the Spainish La Liga, the Bundesliga in Germany, Italy’s Serie A and France’s Ligue 1, include a mid-season break. England manager Gareth Southgate has meanwhile questioned whether the introduction of a winter break in the premier league would improve fortunes in major tournaments. Southgate, who was handed a four-year contract last week having impressed the FA during four matches as interim manager, said any negative effects of England’s fixture-packed winter schedule were an “assumption”.

    The lack of a winter break during the season has often been considered one of several factors contributing to England’s international failures in recent years, with some premier league managers claiming the gruelling festive period pushes players to their limits. Traditionally, English football had a busy Christmas period when teams frequently play several matches in a short period, with just a few days rest between games.

    Mumbai and Delhi hosted European style fan park screenings. Garcia and Kanoute attended the events and engaged with the fans.

    The match concluded in a draw with some high action in the last minute of the game. Both cities witnessed unprecedented support from the fans, as they took over the stadia to support their respective clubs.

    Both clubs had a large fan following in India, and for the first time, their fans had a chance to experience the El Clasico in a fan park atmosphere with a football carnival focussed around the match. The evening included giant screens, competitions and fan engagement activities, food & beverage stalls both in Mumbai (Khar Gymkhana) and in Delhi (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium).

    La Liga president Javier Tebas said that theit aim was to take La Liga across the world, and further establish the league as one that was inclusive and is global. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid were hugely popular in India and they feel that they owe the passionate fans of the league, a chance to experience such an event.

    Garcia, who played for Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona in La Liga, said it was a fantastic atmosphere at the screening and it was wonderful to see such enthusiasm from the crowd.

    Kanoute, who attended the Mumbai screening, said he was glad to see such tremendous support for Spanish football in India, it was an evenly fought contest and was a treat for all.

  • El Clasico among most viewed global annual sporting events, says Sony’s Rajesh Kaul

    El Clasico among most viewed global annual sporting events, says Sony’s Rajesh Kaul

    MUMBAI: Spain’s leading football league La Liga’s official broadcasters in India — Sony Pictures Networks India president, distribution and sports Rajesh Kaul has said that El Clasico was among the most viewed annual sporting events in the world and they enabled football fans who could not watch the match live at Barcelona’s Camp Nou, an opportunity to experience one of the most heavily anticipated games of the season with football legends, Luis Garcia and Frederic Kanoute.

    La Liga, which launched its India office in New Delhi recently, screened in Delhi and Mumbai European-style live match between FC Barcelona & Real Madrid CF, popularly called the ‘E l Clasico.

    Meanwhile, a number of Europe’s major leagues, including the Spainish La Liga, the Bundesliga in Germany, Italy’s Serie A and France’s Ligue 1, include a mid-season break. England manager Gareth Southgate has meanwhile questioned whether the introduction of a winter break in the premier league would improve fortunes in major tournaments. Southgate, who was handed a four-year contract last week having impressed the FA during four matches as interim manager, said any negative effects of England’s fixture-packed winter schedule were an “assumption”.

    The lack of a winter break during the season has often been considered one of several factors contributing to England’s international failures in recent years, with some premier league managers claiming the gruelling festive period pushes players to their limits. Traditionally, English football had a busy Christmas period when teams frequently play several matches in a short period, with just a few days rest between games.

    Mumbai and Delhi hosted European style fan park screenings. Garcia and Kanoute attended the events and engaged with the fans.

    The match concluded in a draw with some high action in the last minute of the game. Both cities witnessed unprecedented support from the fans, as they took over the stadia to support their respective clubs.

    Both clubs had a large fan following in India, and for the first time, their fans had a chance to experience the El Clasico in a fan park atmosphere with a football carnival focussed around the match. The evening included giant screens, competitions and fan engagement activities, food & beverage stalls both in Mumbai (Khar Gymkhana) and in Delhi (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium).

    La Liga president Javier Tebas said that theit aim was to take La Liga across the world, and further establish the league as one that was inclusive and is global. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid were hugely popular in India and they feel that they owe the passionate fans of the league, a chance to experience such an event.

    Garcia, who played for Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona in La Liga, said it was a fantastic atmosphere at the screening and it was wonderful to see such enthusiasm from the crowd.

    Kanoute, who attended the Mumbai screening, said he was glad to see such tremendous support for Spanish football in India, it was an evenly fought contest and was a treat for all.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India ups safety bar on TV sets

    Sony Pictures Networks India ups safety bar on TV sets

    MUMBAI: TV production in India has been a bit of a bummer over the past few years: hazardous material constructed sets, loosely put together electrical connections, below par sanitation, and shoddy facilities have been the hallmarks of shooting floors. Safety measures for TV actors and crews have been sub-par. Accidents have sometimes got out of hand, and there have been several incidents over the years where crew have been injured or lost their lives. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) is changing that at least on one front: having ambulances and clinics on all sets where TV shows or films are being shot.

    Apparently, the company has hired one of India’s top emergency response services TopsLine to deploy 11 mobile clinics and ambulances at the sites of 16 shows where shooting is under way in Mumbai and its periphery. Why is SPN India suddenly getting a shot of corporate social responsibility?

    Well, it’s part of its efforts to raise the bar and provide protection to those who work on the front lines to churn out the content that brings it ratings and revenues. A while ago SPN India officials had conversations with these folks on how they felt on the sets, and the reaction was pretty eye-opening. Most respondents said that, apart from wages, what they wanted was better hygiene and ablution facilities, apart from safety. That prompted the network to spring into action, taking the first of many more steps it intends to take in this direction.

    The mobile medical vans are likely to cover around 1600 people at a stretch if one were to assume 90-100 people working on an average at each of its different sets at a time.

    While TV industry professionals have lauded SPN India’s initiative, a lot more needs to be done says Hats Off Productions co-founder and the Indian Film & TV Producers Council TV division head JD Majethia. However, there are challenges, he admits.

    “The nature of business is so different — the shooting sites are temporary structures; it’s difficult to make arrangements. Sites keep shifting, and sometimes the sets are on wheels,” says Majethia.

    There is the lack of basic hygiene amongst the crew at times who chew tobacco, spit betel nut juice (pan) on the sets, which tends to dirty the area. Of course actors have their vanity vans, which keeps them ring fenced from the mess. But the crew has to bear with it all the same.

    A problem that is faced by many a producer and production supervisors is providing proper lunch tables on locations. “On large shooting floors, if there are 100 people at work and everybody needs to be accommodated during lunch, it becomes difficult to manage, say 10 tables, in an hour’s time,” explains Majethia. Then, potable water, for example, is one of the issues that needs careful planning.

    At times there is the mosquito menace at the shooting locations. And when the Dengue fever scare has been running rampant, this is indeed concerning. “In such situations, we often take the help of pest control services and also provide safety creams such as Odomos to all the actors and workers,” Majethia said.

    Majethia once again lauded SPN India’s ambulance drive and added that the industry is constantly working with the various trade craft bodies to improve the lot of those on the sets. “And things can only get better from here,” he said.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India ups safety bar on TV sets

    Sony Pictures Networks India ups safety bar on TV sets

    MUMBAI: TV production in India has been a bit of a bummer over the past few years: hazardous material constructed sets, loosely put together electrical connections, below par sanitation, and shoddy facilities have been the hallmarks of shooting floors. Safety measures for TV actors and crews have been sub-par. Accidents have sometimes got out of hand, and there have been several incidents over the years where crew have been injured or lost their lives. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) is changing that at least on one front: having ambulances and clinics on all sets where TV shows or films are being shot.

    Apparently, the company has hired one of India’s top emergency response services TopsLine to deploy 11 mobile clinics and ambulances at the sites of 16 shows where shooting is under way in Mumbai and its periphery. Why is SPN India suddenly getting a shot of corporate social responsibility?

    Well, it’s part of its efforts to raise the bar and provide protection to those who work on the front lines to churn out the content that brings it ratings and revenues. A while ago SPN India officials had conversations with these folks on how they felt on the sets, and the reaction was pretty eye-opening. Most respondents said that, apart from wages, what they wanted was better hygiene and ablution facilities, apart from safety. That prompted the network to spring into action, taking the first of many more steps it intends to take in this direction.

    The mobile medical vans are likely to cover around 1600 people at a stretch if one were to assume 90-100 people working on an average at each of its different sets at a time.

    While TV industry professionals have lauded SPN India’s initiative, a lot more needs to be done says Hats Off Productions co-founder and the Indian Film & TV Producers Council TV division head JD Majethia. However, there are challenges, he admits.

    “The nature of business is so different — the shooting sites are temporary structures; it’s difficult to make arrangements. Sites keep shifting, and sometimes the sets are on wheels,” says Majethia.

    There is the lack of basic hygiene amongst the crew at times who chew tobacco, spit betel nut juice (pan) on the sets, which tends to dirty the area. Of course actors have their vanity vans, which keeps them ring fenced from the mess. But the crew has to bear with it all the same.

    A problem that is faced by many a producer and production supervisors is providing proper lunch tables on locations. “On large shooting floors, if there are 100 people at work and everybody needs to be accommodated during lunch, it becomes difficult to manage, say 10 tables, in an hour’s time,” explains Majethia. Then, potable water, for example, is one of the issues that needs careful planning.

    At times there is the mosquito menace at the shooting locations. And when the Dengue fever scare has been running rampant, this is indeed concerning. “In such situations, we often take the help of pest control services and also provide safety creams such as Odomos to all the actors and workers,” Majethia said.

    Majethia once again lauded SPN India’s ambulance drive and added that the industry is constantly working with the various trade craft bodies to improve the lot of those on the sets. “And things can only get better from here,” he said.

  • AXN targets 30 per cent market share with new shows; sees demand from south India

    AXN targets 30 per cent market share with new shows; sees demand from south India

    MUMBAI: Continuing to establish its Live RED strategy from two ends, ie, product to channel and consumers gratification to characteristics is this English Entertainment channel.

    Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) AXN a few months ago launched a new brand positioning with a new look and feel catering to the changing audience taste. With a more intelligent action offering, the channel witnessed better performance from the south of India than the overall market. With 40 per cent viewership share coming from Kerala followed by 36 per cent from Hyderabad, AXN India sees its traction coming from the upwardly mobile young people of 15-35 age group.

    To build upon its familiarity and characters, it has initiated a mixed content proposition consisting of new shows and returning shows with new seasons. It is all geared up to air four new shows starting this weekend in their “Fresh From the US” slot. Two brand new shows that have been added to its library are – Bull and MacGyver whereas the other two are new seasons of cult shows – Supernatural and Elementary.

    From taking various steps for its consumer behaviour association to what it stands for, the channel’s efforts at show and characterisation has worked well. It recently rolled out its HD feed, and has numerous advertisers on board from the automobile and ecommerce categories like Pepperfry, Amazon and eBay.

    “Whenever we launch a new show under this slot, we make sure that the character, show premise and the grade of the show helps building our strategy. We want to cater to both influencers for whom it is about bringing new shows hot from the US and to the adapters community who are easing into the English entertainment space. They not only watch new shows but also see certain old shows right from the beginning. So when we bring fresh shows from the US, they are available throughout the year,” said SPN India executive VP and business head English Entertainment cluster Saurabh Yagnik.

    The channel, which currently has a market share of 18-20 per cent,will continue to back its investments to fulfill its vision to get 30 per cent market share by the end of 2017.

    It might also look at producing local content for the viewers though that will not be the core of their strategy. “International shows will be the core for AXN. The viewers come to us for that,” voiced Yagnik. ” If we get into local programming, what we need to be mindful of is the kind of properties we put in the channel today are on top of the line through the production quality. Whatever we do here, we have to deliver to their values and standards. It could be something going forward.”

    The story of the young and quirky Angus MacGyver, with unconventional problem solving abilities & vast scientific knowledge will be highlighted in MacGyver every Saturday at 11 pm.

    Whereas it’s other new show, Bull will air on Sundays at 11 pm. Brilliant, brash and charming Dr. Jason Bull is not just another psychologist but the ultimate puppet master. He Combines psychology, human intuition and high tech data to win in high-stake trials. The show revolves around the ubersuccessful psychologist and his impeccable style.

    AXN is also raising its entertainment quotient on weekends with brand new seasons of iconic shows at 10 pm. The season 12 of Supernatural will be aired on Saturdays whereas detective Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson in Elementary season 5, will be seen solving mysterious cases every Sunday.

    “At AXN, our aim is to offer a wide range of shows across genres that provide mind rush, edge-of-the-seat entertainment and desirable characters. FFUS is one such property that gives all three. It also helps in building the English GEC category – Getting to watch new shows in good quality on their TV sets certainly discourages viewers from downloading content. It’s a win-win situation,” concluded Yagnik.