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Tag: SPNI

  • SPNI hires Nimisha Pandey for top programing job at Sony-SAB

    SPNI hires Nimisha Pandey for top programing job at Sony-SAB

    MUMBAI; It’s homecoming for television creative professional Nimisha Pandey. Market sources say that she is set to join Sony Entertainment Television’s profitable Sony SAB channel as its programming head.

    For those not in the know, Nimisha had joined Multiscreen Media (as Sony was known then) for two years as an executive producer between 2004-2006 at the start of her career after completing her course in direction from the Film & Television Institute of India in Pune.

    It may be recalled that the long-serving NP Singh had retired as Sony Pictures Network India CEO a couple of months ago; he was replaced by content star Gaurav Banerjee. Nimisha is one of GB’s (as he is known) first unconfirmed senior creative hires since taking over.

    Nimisha was last the chief content head, originals at Zee5 for almost four years. Prior to that she was director international originals for nearly two years at global streaming powerhouse Netflix’s India ops Before that she held the position of head of content at Alt Balaji for three years.

    She has  had year-long-project-led stints at various production houses right from Balaji Telefilms, 4 Lions Films, Fireworks, Directors Kut, Sphere Origin (for three years),  and Shreya Entertainment over the years.

    We tried to reach out to the normally effervescent and bubbly Nimisha but she was unavailable for comment. Neither was anyone from Sony; it, being a Sunday.

    With the buzz being extremely strong, Indiantelevision.com decided to go ahead and report her appointment.

    With 20 years’ varied experience under her belt producing and commissioning shows, Nimisha does seem like the right candidate for the job.
     

  • Vidnet 2024: The advertising opportunity beyond AVOD

    Vidnet 2024: The advertising opportunity beyond AVOD

    Mumbai: The OTT business in India is buzzing with new streamers, niche, and language offerings. However, early players are struggling as heavy content spending isn’t matching revenues, and India-specific low pricing hasn’t spurred subscriptions. Growth has plateaued as consumers return to post-COVID normalcy, preferring to binge occasionally.

    Adding to the churn is the shift towards AVOD by giants like JioCinema, offering premium events like cricket for free, with Disney+Hotstar following suit. This has strained streaming bottom lines. The rise of FAST channels is also causing industry jitters. Vidnet explores the future of the streaming ecosystem. This event was held on 19 July 2024, at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai.

    This panel discussed innovative advertising avenues beyond ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) platforms and how businesses could seize those new opportunities to reach their target audience effectively.

    The session was chaired by  Kurate Digital Consulting’s founding partner Uday Sodhi. It included the following panellists: Amazon minitv business head & director Aruna Daryanani, Sony LIV, SPNI  Sr. vice president & head of ad revenue Ranjana Mangla, Zee5, South Asia chief revenue officer Gaurav Kanwal, Marico head – media, digital marketing and Brand PR (India and Global COE) Ankit Desai, CereOne director Deepak Karnani, PubMatic senior director – customer success Harguneet Singh.

    The discussion highlighted key industry trends and perspectives on content consumption and advertising priorities. Ranjana Mangla emphasized that different video genres cater to diverse audiences, with broad appeal achieved by shows like KBC or Indian Idol, while most content targets specific niches. Understanding the addressable market and tailoring content and sponsorship strategies to meet specific goals is crucial for advertisers.

    Gaurav Kanwal pointed out that the persistent issue of trust in digital advertising necessitates a shift from efficiency to effectiveness in media planning. Advertisers should focus on outcome-based strategies and leverage data to address specific challenges and metrics, making campaigns more relevant.

    Harguneet Singh noted that advertisers are primarily focused on acquiring cost-effective impressions to maximize reach and frequency. Targeting strategies can vary from geo-specific to audience segments based on advertiser behaviour.

    Anand Makhija discussed the common comparison of YouTube’s rates with other platforms, highlighting that CPMs are often higher elsewhere. It is important to communicate the additional benefits of different platforms. The growth of connected and smart TVs is driving the industry towards hybrid models (combining AVOD and SVOD), which help transition users and enhance platform engagement.

    Aruna Daryanani shared that as publishers, we will need to meet the diverse needs of advertisers. There is no one-size fits all approach here and all media plans need to be customised based on objectives. The new brands are looking to build upper-funnel awareness, whereas the established brands are looking to build saliency and mid to lower-funnel impact. Given Amazon miniTV is tightly integrated with Amazon, advertisers benefit from Amazon’s rich content and shopping insights.

    Ankit Desai highlighted that advertisers are investing significantly in video platforms, with 50-60 per cent of their budgets allocated to video advertising, and some up to 80 per cent. Despite YouTube’s classification as short-form content, consumers perceive all video content similarly, blurring the lines between digital video and OTT platforms.

  • Sony YAY! expands regional reach with Odia-dubbed kids programs

    Sony YAY! expands regional reach with Odia-dubbed kids programs

    Mumbai: Sony YAY! becomes the first kids’ channel to offer its most popular kids programs Shin chan, Oggy and the Cockroaches and Honey Bunny in Odia language. This initiative is to cater to the growing viewership from young audiences in Odisha.

    With over 1000 hours of unique content and a weekly reach of over 15 million, Sony YAY! will offer content in seven regional languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Kannada, and Odia. This launch allows children in Odisha to enjoy three iconic shows – The leading chase comedy Oggy and the Cockroaches, the longest-running pet comedy Honey Bunny, and the latest, biggest addition to their eclectic lineup, the iconic show – Shin chan.

    Sony YAY! business head Leena Lele Dutta said, “Within the enchanting world of animation, toons aren’t just characters; they’re companions, confidants, and cherished playmates in the imaginative landscapes of childhood. When toons engage in dialogue that resonates with the innocence and wonder in young audiences, they transcend mere entertainment to become treasured friends, speaking a language that resonates deeply with young hearts, further endearing themselves to their audience.”    

    SPNI head of distribution, sales & marketing Makarand Palekar underscored, “By 2025, 60 per cent of TV consumption is projected to be regional content, according to FICCI-EY projections. Our strategic expansion into the Odisha market fortifies our ability to cater to the unique preferences of Odia-speaking audiences. The launch of our Odia feed cements our presence in this dynamic market.”

    The Odia-dubbed shows will be part of a general entertainment channel (GEC) bundle, offering families high-quality entertainment at an affordable price, reinforcing SPNI’s commitment to its audience across diverse linguistic backgrounds.

  • Structured succession planning process is on for my successor: NP Singh

    Structured succession planning process is on for my successor: NP Singh

    MUMBAI: With the announcement that NP Singh has decided to hang up his boots at SPNI, an era is coming to an end. One of the few senior executives to have seen it all, from traditional pay TV broadcasting to the streaming revolution followed by its fizzling out, NP (as he is called) is leaving behind extremely large boots to be filled. 

    A hard-nose finance professional and one of the few Sikhs to lead a media company in India, he stepped into the effervescent Kunal Dasgupta’s shoes, from his CFO’s position in the previous decade. He led SPNI well: making it one of the most profitable broadcasters in India – and even Asia – by focusing on the bottom line, taking hard decisions like not overbidding for IPL rights and even dropping a property that Sony had spent more than a decade developing.  

    He was one of the key executives – apart from those in Los Angeles – who worked on the now-aborted merger of SPNI (Culver Max) with Zee Entertainment. 

    Known to be reticent and  almost media shy despite running a M&E major, NP never let the glamour and glitz of the broadcasting business get to him. So it’s no surprise that  the note he sent out to his team, is subtle and subdued in its messaging.  Read on for details of the message: 

    Today, I have a significant update to share. After nearly 44 years in my career, including a rewarding 25-year tenure at SPNI, I have decided to move on from my role as MD and CEO. Having reached many significant milestones with our team, I am now ready to focus on social change and shift from operational roles to advisory ones. 

     

    However, my commitment to SPNI and its success remains strong. During my time here, we have established industry benchmarks, expanded our reach, and achieved many noteworthy accomplishments. I am dedicated to ensuring our legacy of success continues and grows under the new leadership.

     I will continue to lead SPNI until we find the right person to take over. We have begun a structured succession planning process for my successor and hope to have exciting news to share in the near future. Finding the right fit is our top priority.

     I understand there may be speculation during this time, so I urge everyone to rely on our official updates. We are committed to sharing timely and transparent information through our established channels and will communicate any definitive updates directly.

     Thank you for your trust and support. Your commitment and patience are vital as we navigate this transition and continue our path of growth and innovation.

  • Sony Entertainment Television’s exclusive linear TV airing of Shrimad Ramayan

    Sony Entertainment Television’s exclusive linear TV airing of Shrimad Ramayan

    Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television (SET) celebrated the New Year by connecting with Indian television viewers through its exclusive linear TV airing of Shrimad Ramayan. Recognising the enduring allure of linear TV, the channel chose to launch the divine epic exclusively on cable TV and DTH platforms.

    Shrimad Ramayan resonates deeply with millions, portraying essential relationships amid inherent conflicts. The narrative of Lord Ram, the ‘Ideal Man,’ embodies timeless values such as integrity, loyalty, courage, love, and resilience. In an endeavour to echo the relevancy of the value that this timeless epic is known for, SET has created compelling short videos promoting the essence of relationships and essential life lessons

    Beyond the familiar story, Shrimad Ramayan will also showcase multiple untold stories, offering a nuanced understanding of the saga’s depth and eternal beauty. By exclusively releasing it on cable TV and DTH, Sony Entertainment Television aims to play a vital role in revitalizing family viewing.

    SPNI’s distribution marketing and sales head Makarand Palekar emphasises, “In my experience, while streaming services have become increasingly popular, linear TV remains a resilient and relevant part of the media landscape. It is not only coexisting with on- demand platforms but also adapting to evolving viewer habits, ensuring its continued presence in the foreseeable future.”

    Sony Entertainment Networks was amongst the earliest movers to make the bold, industry-first step of discontinuing all its Live TV channels on Sony LIV. This move along with exclusive Linear TV only releases like Srimad Ramayan will help create differentiated content, both in the linear & the OTT offerings of the network, thus helping drive viewership and revenues for both the mediums.

    The network, known for its novel and popular shows, features progressive storylines in existing shows like ‘Kavya – Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon,’ ‘Sapnon Ki Chhalaang,’ ‘Mere Dad ki Dulhan,’ and ‘Aangan.’ Upcoming shows such as ‘Mehndi Wala Ghar,’ ‘Kuch Reet Jagat Ki Aisi Hai,’ and ‘Nivedita Maajhi Tai’ promise a rich and diverse content mix.

    Undoubtedly these shows are a huge draw for viewers and also provide advertisers with distinct opportunities for targeted engagement and strategic product placements. Company anticipates that exclusive content like Shrimad Ramayan marks the beginning of a pivotal moment in the continued vitality of television entertainment. The distinctive allure of such shows, with their unique narratives and exclusive platform specific airing, is poised to significantly elevate viewership and reaffirm the enduring appeal of linear television.

  • BCCI bilateral rights – Hefty premium on a low base; marginally below our estimates

    BCCI bilateral rights – Hefty premium on a low base; marginally below our estimates

    Mumbai: BCCI bilateral rights for 88 matches have been sold of INR 59.6 bn (8 per cent below our estimated range of INR 65bn-INR 75bn, link – https://tinyurl.com/2u8v8xrm) which is 13 per cent higher on a per match basis vs the earlier cycle (43 per cent lower vs IPL on a per match basis).

    * Whilst comparing this with IPL, premiums vs base price for TV/digital in IPL per match were at 17 per cent /72 per cent on an already high base price, whereas in the case of these bilateral matches, premiums vs base price for TV/digital per match basis is 63 per cent /41 per cent vs base price (base price was set much lower than earlier cycle’s final price per match). In our view, TV premium compared to base price could been higher than digital, due to Viacom 18 bidding aggressively for her same as one platform having both (TV and digital rights) lead to better advantage on bundling and higher negotiating leverage with advertisers  

    * Overall premiums (vs earlier cycle) for these rights been much lower vs IPL due to 1) lower number of T20 matches, 2) less interest in bilateral matches with a large tournament like IPL garnering interest on home grounds already, 3) lesser number of platforms bidding for the same and 4) a poor ad environment over the last one year; IPL had attracted a premium of 117 per cent on a per match basis vs it’s last cycle price, whereas these rights have come at a premium of mere 13 per cent on a per match basis  vs it’s last cycle’s price.

    Further, in this case, the cost of per match on digital has surpassed cost of per match on TV , as digital is 8% higher on a per match basis; in the case of IPL – TV and digital were largely on par on a per match basis

    Earlier cycle of the bilateral rights was not unbundled hence there isn’t a comparison on TV/digital rights basis per match  

    We believe that a single entity securing both TV and digital rights is mutually advantageous, as it enhances the negotiating leverage of the platform. This allows them to offer bundled options to advertisers. In contrast, when two separate players acquire TV and digital rights, it fuels competitive rivalry between platforms, resulting in a dampening effect on overall revenues (IPL revenues were down YoY in CY23); we believe bundling prevents advertisers holding a stronger bargaining position as compared to the platforms.

    Acquisition of BCCI bilateral rights will also enable Jio cinema to become even bigger in the Indian OTT ecosystem; the platform has an AVOD market share of ~22-24% already in CY23, after factoring IPL revenue and other content; revenues can scale up further due to these bilateral rights; this in turn will intensify competition in the OTT segment and work negatively for other broadcast-based OTT players like Sony, Zee, Disney+Hotstar. It will also continue to negatively impact SVOD revenue growth for Indian OTT, as Jio Cinema may continue to offer content free  

    On the TV side, this is Viacom’s first large scale cricket acquisition, as IPL and WC rights on cricket for TV are with Star/Zee respectively.

    The credit of this article goes to Elara Capital SVP Karan Taurani 

  • Promax India 2023: Celebrating excellence in entertainment marketing & design!

    Promax India 2023: Celebrating excellence in entertainment marketing & design!

    Mumbai: Promax India, the leading community in the nation’s entertainment market, successfully hosted the 21 edition of the ‘Promax India Awards 2023,’ commemorating remarkable accomplishments in the realms of entertainment marketing and design. The Promax India Conference & Awards 2023 was held on 25 August at Mumbai’s Radisson Mumbai Goregaon, featuring informative sessions led by renowned global speakers. Ahead of the primary event, on 24 August, Promax India organised a creative boot camp – ‘The Anatomy of a Clip-Based Promo,’ along with a senior leadership luncheon.

    The grand event had industry media personality Amazon Prime Video head of India originals Aparna Purohit, as the awards chair along with Vidyanath Vaddi, head/on-air promotions, SPNI English Channels, English and Bangla Channels, Sony BBC Earth, Pix & Sony Aath; Shravanty Roy, Sr. vice president marketing, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd; and Rupesh Kashyap, partner & chief content officer, Hotcult Branded content as the advisory board members.

    Day one of the event featured industry experts who shared their insights on the latest industry trends, fostering stimulating conversations and the exchange of ideas among attendees. It started with an enlightening session on the topic ‘The Great Streaming Pivot’ by Lee Hunt who is a New York-based strategist and industry thought leader for media companies around the world. In his session, he shared details and stats about the changes that the world will see in the digital and entertainment landscape. Subsequently, a Senior Leadership Luncheon was hosted for the esteemed dignitaries which was followed by another discussion on the topic ‘Harsh Realities of the Future Workforce’ by David Shing (known as “Shingy”) who is an Australian futurist, speaker, creative director, strategic digital consultant, and entrepreneur. He engaged with the panel through a slew of activities to educate big brands about the unique opportunities afforded by emerging digital, social, and mobile technologies.

    Additionally, the creative boot camp, titled ‘The Anatomy of a Clip-Based Promo,’ took place at Atlas SkillTech University. Helmed by Vikki Stephenson, a senior creative consultant with 20 years of experience in creating award-winning campaigns for renowned brands, this boot camp was open to all professionals aiming to elevate their creative bar and produce world-class promos. The highly anticipated event witnessed prominent brands from all over the nation vying for the coveted awards.

    The second day’s conference began with Lee Hunt leading a session on ‘New Best Practices 2023,’ examining the competition between linear and streaming media, their new strategies, and how consumers continue to sample new entertainment services. Subsequently, Tamagna Ghosh, MD, APAC at Trailer Park Group, presented ‘World Gold,’ showcased some of this year’s incredible crop of Promax Gold winners in design and promotion. Another session by Sudipto Saha from PwC highlighted the use of analytics and AI to gain profound viewer insights. Additionally, ‘The Connected Human,’ a session by Shingy, a creative director, strategist, and futurist, delved extensively into the incredible process of connecting the brand with the world.

    Engaging in a fireside chat with Viacom18 head of brand and creative marketing Shagun Seda award-winning director Prasoon Pandey shared his thoughts on how he gets the ideas for his projects and commented, “When we get an idea, we keep dropping it because something is not surprising enough, I am looking always for ideas that keep surprising me first because if they do not surprise me they will not really surprise the audience and once you find it then you keep polishing it, keep looking at it from various sides and to keep polishing it. Once I feel this overall structure has been polished then I open and then I like layering my commercials because even if they want to be there just 10 times people should find something new, they should discover something new every”.

    ZEEL, chief channel officer, Bhojpuri bluster, Amarpreet Singh Saini said “Promax Workshop 2023 was invigorating for any creative spirit in the field of media. On the one hand, it gave an excellent landscaping of the evolving media world with directions to the future, it also blended in creative breakthrough sessions with amazing speakers like Shingy. It mixed knowledge with fun so well. Will look forward to more from their plate as it helps us get such fresh perspectives.”

    Some of the winners of the prestigious awards are best brand image campaign(In-house), won by Disney+ Hotstar for their Thoda Ruk Shah Rukh campaign; Best social media campaign for a channel or brand by Meta for Meta- creator day campaign; Best movies promo by Shemaroo Entertainment for Bahubali 1 & 2 stop motion; Best children’s promo by Zee Entertainment for Dance India Dance Li’L Masters, Best originated promo(out-of-house) by Sony Entertainment Television for Kaun Banega Crorepati S14; Best drama campaign by Sony Liv for Rocket Boys – The Mad Scientists; Best holiday/festival promo by Viacom 18(Nick-India) for Nickelodeon Dusshera Ident; Best entertainment promo by Sony Sports Network for WWE- Lootera Film Ft. John Abraham & Drew McInTyre; Best reality promo by Disney Star – Star Vijay for Big Boss 6 promo amongst others.

    The full winner’s list can be viewed at

     

  • Ashish Golwlkar announces exit from SPNI after a seven-year stint

    Ashish Golwlkar announces exit from SPNI after a seven-year stint

    Mumbai: Indian media and entertainment industry veteran Ashish Golwalkar has left Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) after a seven year stint. A company spokesperson confirmed the development.

    He joined in December 2015 as senior VP and creative director of content before heading programming at SPNI’s flagship channel, SET, in April 2018. In his latest role, he was heading content at both SET and the digital business, which is SonyLIV.

    Prior to this, he had stints in WWIL, Zee Entertainment, and Disney-Star. He was with  ZEEl for over 11 years. He has over 20 years of experience spanning sales and marketing, content syndication, brand management, and content creation. He wrote and co-wrote multiple award-winning non-scripted formats in various genres across Zeel, Disney-FoxStar, and Sony Pictures. He has built content teams at Zeel and Star Plus.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India rebrands channel portfolio

    Sony Pictures Networks India rebrands channel portfolio

    Mumbai : Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has rebranded all its network channels to be more aligned with Sony’s global ethos.

    Sony’s networks exist at the crossroads of technology and entertainment, and the logos reflect that the new branding colors are vibrant, inspiring, and reminiscent of a brilliant light spectrum.

    The logo’s curve is inspired by the swing of the Sony-S, and the dominant background is synonymous with the Sony brand.

    Sony has created a visual thread that connects the diverse family of Sony’s networks and reflects the 360-degree entertainment experience with this uniform shape and associative color play.

    SPNI managing director & CEO N.P Singh said, “The power of the Sony brand and its values have driven our work ethics so far, and today, it reflects in our channel-brand architecture as well.”

    “The work that we started three years ago has now reached fruition. We are creating a powerful unified entertainment conglomerate with a broader appeal by refocusing our existing channel portfolio in its latest look and feel,” he adds.

  • SPNI acquires exclusive media rights for World Athletics Championships Oregon22

    SPNI acquires exclusive media rights for World Athletics Championships Oregon22

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has acquired the exclusive media rights for the World Athletics Championships Oregon22.

    This deal will give SPNI rights to broadcast the upcoming edition of the World Athletics Championships on its sports channels across India and the subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The association will also allow SPN to showcase all video-on-demand content for its viewers.

    The series, scheduled from 15 July to 24 July 2022 in Eugene, Oregon and United States, will be live telecast across Sony Ten  channels in India as well as livestreamed on SPN’s premium OTT platform, SonyLIV.

    The 2022 World Athletics Championships will be the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships and will mark the first time the US hosts the most prestigious event in the sport. The ten-day grand sporting competition will host 2000 athletes representing more than 200 nations, who will aim to give their best performance across 49 track and field disciplines & realize their lifelong dream.

    For India, Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra will lead the country’s charge, heading a strong contingent that will include: Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Men’s Shot Put), Kamalpreet Kaur (Women’s Discus Throw), Priyanka Goswami (Women’s 20km Race Walk), Rahul Rohilla (Men’s 20km Race Walk), Sandeep Kumar (Men’s 20km Race Walk), Murali Sreeshankar (Men’s Long Jump), Jeswin Aldrin (Men’s Long Jump), Abdulla Aboobacker (Men’s Triple Jump), Avinash Sable (Men’s 3000m Steeplechase), Praveen Chitravel (Men’s Triple Jump), Seema Punia (Women’s discus throw) along with a team for the men’s 4×400 relay and more.

    Currently, former long jumper Anju Bobby George’s bronze in Paris in 2003 is the only medal won by an Indian athlete at the World Championships. The nation will be rooting strongly for the contingent and hope to extend the medal tally in this outing.

    Speaking on the partnership, SPNI chief revenue officer, distribution & head of sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “We are pleased to have acquired the media rights of World Athletics Championships Oregon22 for India and the subcontinent. The World Athletics Championships Oregon22 is anticipated to be a gathering of the world’s best athletes and we are proud to see a strong Indian contingent qualify for the competition, backed by their exceptional performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. With the broadcast of World Athletics Championship, our viewers will get an opportunity to watch India’s finest at this prestigious sporting event and cheer for the athletes to finish at the podium.”  

    World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon said, “We are delighted that Sony Pictures Networks India has come on board to provide such extensive coverage of our most prestigious championships to our Indian and subcontinental fans. India is an important and growing market for athletics, partly as a consequence of the rising performance level of Indian athletes at our major championships. As a global organization we want our sport to be available to athletics fans in every country in the world and this agreement with Sony Pictures Networks India will help us achieve that.”