Tag: Sun TV Network

Sun continues to shine on its namesake broadcaster

BENGALURU: Television penetration is high in South India about 95 per cent as compared to the national average of about 65 per cent. A little less than forty per cent of television viewership in India is from South India. According to a Sun TV Network investor presentation, the addressable television advertisement market for South Indian television broadcasters, which comprises national, regional and local level advertisers, is pegged at Rs 6,000 crore.

The four major South Indian languages are (in order of populations of the major territories they are spoken in) Telugu in Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, Tamil in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Kannada in Karnataka and Malayalam in Kerala. Besides, there is a global diaspora from South India that speaks one or more of these four languages. The largest regions in terms of population is Andhra Pradesh and Telangana combined, followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. In terms of television households, Tamil Nadu leads because of its higher television penetration, followed by Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala in that order. There are about 225 channels spread across the four South Indian languages that beam into India, besides many more that beam South Indian language content into other geographies.

Networks, be they regional or pan-India, have been trying to attract as many eyeballs in these regions to their channels as they can. The focus in new channel launches seemed to be Telugu and to some extent Kannada in 2018. Though channels were launched in Tamil and Malayalam languages by major networks, it seemed more as efforts to enter these spaces, rather than to consolidate further.

Among the major networks, Star India, Sun TV Network, Viacom18/ETV and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) have channels that cater to the viewership pleasure of speakers of at least three of the four languages. All of them would like to lead in each of the four languages. The Sun TV Network has channels across genres such as GEC, movies, music, kids and comedy in all the four languages. The network also has news and ‘life’ channels in Tamil and Telugu.

As things stood, until 2018, only Sun TV Network and Star India had major channels in all the four languages. Zeel launched its Malayalam GEC Zee Keralam on 19 November 2018 and completed its quartet. The network had catered to only the Telugu, Tamil and Kannada audiences until then. With the launch of Zee Keralam, Zeel had five channels for South Indian viewers – Zee Telugu, Zee Kannada, Zee Tamil and Zee Cinemalu, a Telugu Movies channel.

The major GECs from the Star India stable included Asianet for Malayalam, Star Vijay for Tamil, Star Suvarana for Kannada and Star Maa for Telugu. Besides, Star India has been wooing sports viewers in South India -it now has 3 sports channels in South Indian languages – the last one to be launched near the end of 2018 – Star Sports 1 Kannada. Earlier, on December 7, the network had launched Star Sports 1 Telugu to join Star Sports 1 Tamil. The launch of Star Sports 1 Kannada took the Star Sports channel count to 15 with 10 standard definition and five high definition channels.

Another national network, Network18, through Viacom 18 and ETV, has also been making rapid strides to catch up with its peers in the South Indian space. Earlier in the year, on February 19, Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd (Viacom 18) had launched Colors Tamil. The company followed it up by launching a Kannada movies channels – Colors Kannada Cinema. Viacom 18 also started the Kannada feed of two of its kids’ channels – Nickelodeon and Nickelodeon Sonic. Through the ETV brand, the Network 18 group launched ETV Pus HD, ETV Life HD and ETV Aburichi HD, ETV Cinema HD were launched on December 27, 2018.

As many as nine HD channels were launched by two pan India networks in South India. Seven of the new HD channels were Telugu– five GEC and two movies and one each GEC HD channel was launched in Kannada and Malayalam. Network 18 through Viacom 18 and ETV launched five, while Zeel launched four HD channels. Zee Kannada HD was launched on 3 November 2018, while Zee Telugu HD and Zee Cinemalu HD were launched on 1 January 2018. Zee Keralam HD was launched on 5 December 2018.

2018 saw elections in a number of states in the country. It also saw launch of regional news channels in the south. NewsX Kannada, a Kannada news channel was launched in 2018, while in the Telugu News space, Thota Chandrasekhar who holds positions in actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, launched 99 TV on 11 July, 2018. The Jana Sena Party also reportedly supports another Telugu News channel that started test runs on 24 October 2018 -Prime9 News.

According to a Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) presentation in April 2018, television viewership in 2017 grew by 32 per cent as compared to 2016. In South India, viewership of Kannada content led the growth, followed by Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam with 63 per cent, 33 per cent, 30 per cent and 16 per cent growth respectively. Comparatively, viewership of the largest language – Hindi, grew by 27 per cent.

The Sun continues to shine on Sun TV

BARC data for top 10 channels across genres NCCS All India 2+ reveals that the Sun TVv Networks flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV is the most watched channel in the country. In 2018, Sun TV headed BARC’s list of top 10 channels across genres for 48 of the 52 weeks of 2018. It was only during some weeks of the eleventh edition of the Indian cricketing bonanza IPL that channel lost its prime position in BARC’s list of top 10 channels across genres for four of the seven IPL weeks.

Among the 4 languages, it was Sun TV that topped BARC’s weekly ratings in Tamil, Star Maa that generally topped the weekly ratings in Telugu, Colors Kannada that topped the ratings in Karnataka and Asianet that topped the ratings in Malayalam during 2018.

Since week 1 of 2018, BARC has also started putting in the public domain weekly ratings of news channels in these languages – and there are more than forty of them spread across the four languages. Polimer News in Tamil, TV9 Telugu in Telugu, TV9 Kannada, and Asianet News in Malayalam were the regional news toppers according to BARC’s weekly list of top 5 news channels in each respective language during 2018.

From the financial aspect, the Sun TV Network has been one of the most profitable media and entertainment companies in India. The company has been rewarding its shareholders with dividends for at least three of the four quarters of a fiscal. Financial year 2018-19 or FY 2018-19 (period between 01 April 2018 to 31 March 2019) seems to be no different – the company has already rewarded its shareholders with dividends for the two quarters for which it has declared results so far.

Despite not having a number 1 position in BARC’s weekly lists of top 5 channels in Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, the network’s channels have a huge combined viewership. The company claims in his investor presentation that about 29 per cent of the estimated Rs 4,500 crore television ad revenue and 60 per cent of subscription revenue of the four South Indian spaces accrues to it. The Sun TV Network’s revenue for FY 2018-19 was Rs 2,862 crore, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 979 crore (36 per cent margin). Sun TV Network’s ad and subscription revenues for fiscal 2018-19 were Rs 1,172 crore and Rs 1,116 crore respectively.

January 15, 2019
Four most watched channels on Indian television

BENGALURU: Despite many experts predicting the decline and ultimate death of conventional television, the medium is still one of the largest ones for entertainment, for news and for marketers in terms of viewers. Notwithstanding the fact that more channels have come under Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC), the moot point is that the number of television advertisements in India has increased says an industry watcher. So,which were the most watched television channels week on week in the country during until week 35 of 2018?
Analysis of BARC weekly data for the top 10 channels across genres NCCS: 2+ All for weeks 1 to 35 of 2018 (Saturday, 30 December 2017 to Friday, 31 August 2018, period under consideration) have revealed some interesting facts. The most notable one is that only four channels have appeared in BARC’s weekly across genres during all the first 35 weeks of 2018. All four are general entertainment channels. Two are free to air (FTA) and two are flagship channels of the networks of which they are a part of. Three are Hindi and one is Tamil. In alphabetical order they are: Star India’s FTA and renamed channel Star Bharat: Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) FTA Hindi GEC channel and its flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV.
Please refer to the figure below:

(The only parameter considered in this report is limited to BARC ratings. Reach, viewership share, have not been considered here. BARC weekly viewership data for the top 10 Channels Across Genres available in the public data is in terms of thousands of impressions (000s))

Sun TV is the most watched television channel in India. Period. Its average ratings during the first 35 weeks of 2018 are even higher than the average ratings of Star India’s sports channel Star Sports 1 Hindi during the weeks that IPL 11 was played in 2018, Sun is a regional channel with a major portion of its viewership limited to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry markets.
Zee Anmol and Star Bharat are the first and second most watched Hindi GECs’ respectively in India. The viewership of both the channels is driven more by rural numbers as compared to urban. The fourth most watched channel in India is Zee TV. Zee TV’s ratings are driven more by urban viewers than rural viewers.
Until week 33 oi 2018, Sony Pictures Network India’s (SPN) women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal consistently appeared in BARC’s weekly top 10 channels across genres. However, since the past two weeks (weeks 34 and 25 of 2018), the channel has missed BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 channels across genres bus.

September 11, 2018
Sun TV Network announces new channel pricing

MUMBAI: While broadcasters are still waiting for the Supreme Court hearing on the TRAI tariff order, most of them are publishing their reference interconnect offer (RIO) already in compliance with the order. Sun TV Network has also announced its RIO almost one week after the TRAI deadline of 31 August.

The broadcaster has also stuck to a maximum 15 per cent MRP discount to distributors. Earlier, Madras High Court chief justice did not uphold TRAI’s proposal of allowing highest 15 per cent cap on discounts despite giving the go-ahead to all other proposals. As any clarification did not come from TRAI, all the broadcasters are adhering to the order to avoid any further confusion.

Sun TV Network’s 25 standard definition channels will be available on a-la-carte basis under Rs 19, as required by regulations. For HD channels, the a-la-carte rate has been fixed at Rs 19. The network has also announced thirteen SD bouquets and three HD bouquets. Targeting the entire belt of South India, Sun Ultimate SD and HD bouquet have been priced at Rs 65.

While most of the broadcasters have published their RIOs, Supreme Court is yet to decide the final destiny of the digital television pricing. It again deferred the hearing of Star India’s petition filed against TRAI tariff and interconnect order to 11 September 2018. The case was first contested in Madras High Court and the high court upheld the tariff order with certain riders.

However, while the supreme decision is still awaiting, major broadcasters have already come up with channel prices. TV18 Broadcast Ltd (TV18), Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) and Sony Pictures Networks India Private Ltd (SPNI), Disney India have made available several bouquets targeting audiences of different natures. The first three broadcasters have also highly focused on regional bouquets. ZEEL was the only broadcaster to publish its RIO before the given deadline. Star India, one of the petitioners against the tariff order has not filed its RIO yet.

Sun TV Network channels have good viewership across all markets in South India. In Tamil market, Sun TV retained its first position with 938999 impressions ‘000s, as per BARC data week 35. The network’s Malayalam GEC Surya TV retained third position in the market with 127136 impressions ‘000s. In Kannada and Telugu markets also, the network’s channels retained positions among top 5 channels.

September 9, 2018
Deepti Sivan appointed as Zee Malayalam business head

MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zee) is all set to launch its Malayalam entertainment channel after successfully establishing itself in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada markets of the South region. The channel is already on a roll and has roped in Deepti Sivan as business head. A source close to the development confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com.

Sivan comes from a family of creative professionals and has done many challenging assignments in radio, television and film industry in a career spanning around 20 years.

Zee Malayalam is in the process of finalising its content line-up for the launch and has already acquired the satellite rights of recently launched Malayalam movies such as Hey Jude, Aadu 2 and Diwanjimoola Grand Prix. At present, the channel is negotiating with many upcoming movie titles.

Sivan has graduated in law and with an MBA in entrepreneurship and has donned many hats such as director, producer, production designer and station director of a radio station to a channel head at a television network. Her forte is media strategy, idea generation, content development, brand identity and expansion.

Prior to joining Zee Malayalam, Sivan was associated with Tripod Entertainment as executive producer. She was the channel head of the Sun Network’s Malayalam GEC Surya TV for two years. At Red FM, she played the role of regional station director for all stations across Kerala for more than three years.

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January 12, 2018
Kal Cables can continue analogue transmission, says Madras High Court

NEW DELHI: In a clear set-back to the ministry of information and broadcasting, digitization has once again been pushed back in Tamil Nadu where it had been put on hold from Phase I of Digital Addressable System following a court order.

Kal Cables, a subsidiary of the Sun TV Network, got a reprieve from going digital following an interim injunction by the Madras High Court against a Central government order directing all multi-system operators (MSOs) to switch to digital mode.

Kal Cables was allowed to transmit signals using analogue mode by Justice M Duraiswamy after its counsel and senior advocate A R L Sundaresan argued that state-run Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd had been granted an extension.

Arasu was granted three months to switch over to the DAS and has since been granted another extension till 17 August 2017.

All MSOs were supposed to switch to digital transmission by March 31.

Kal Cables said preferential treatment extended to Arasu by the ministry was arbitrary.

The matter was put off for further hearing for a week as Additional Solicitor General G. Rajagopalan requested time.

August 9, 2017
Govt rules out TV channel categorisation (updated)

NEW DELHI: The government has ruled out categorisation of TV channels, fixing telecast time and framing code of conduct for contents of various serials and other telecast, the Parliament has been told.

Minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said the programmes and advertisements telecast on private TV channels are required to be in conformity with the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed in the Rule 6 and 7 of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994.

Rule 7(11) of the said rule provides that “No programme shall carry advertisements exceeding 12 minutes per hour, which may include up to 10 minutes per hour of commercial advertisements and up to two minutes per hour of a channel’s self-promotional programmes.”

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court is to hear on 11 October the case challenging the ad cap on television channels.

In the hearing on 29 March 2016, a plea was made on behalf of the information and broadcasting ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour. The petition has been filed against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Union Government by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and other stakeholders.

The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamorous, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

Also read:

TV adcaps case in Delhi HC deferred to 20 April

127 channels violating 12 min/hr ad-cap rule, TRAI releases details

Copyright owners call for competitive pricing over TRAI regulation

August 7, 2017
Zee TV makes it to second place across genres

BENGALURU: For the second time in 2017, the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) network flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV found itself as the second most watched channel across genres, pushing down Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus to third place. The first place across genres, of course, is the sole domain of The Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV, except during the IPL that is. Over the past few weeks, the Hindi GEC and the Hindi GEC (Urban or U) markets have promoted two Zee TV programmes – a reality talent show – Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs and a Balaji Telefilms family soap Kumkum Bhagya to the top of the weekly top five Hindi GEC programmes list. – NCCS All : Prime Time (1800 – 2330 hrs) : 2+ Individuals.

One Tamil GEC channel and One Hindi Movies channel, two Telugu GEC channels and six Hindi GEC channels made it to the weekly top 10 channels list across genres of Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) for week 27 of 2017 (Saturday, 1 July 2017 to Friday, 7 July 2017). Or, putting it across differently, two channels each from the Sun TV, Zeel, Star India, Network 18 and Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) networks made up the weekly top 10 channels across genres list for week 27 of 2017.

Sun TV occupied its usual unassailable position as leader of the Top 10 channels across genre pack with 1,112.035 million weekly impressions in week 27 – the channel improved its impressions by 2.87 percent over week 26. Zee TV gained a rank to second place with a massive 15.65 percent gain in weekly impressions over week 26 with 686.643 million weekly impressions, followed by Star Plus at third place with 650.601 million weekly impressions (a gain of 0.91 percent over the previous week).

Network 18’s FTA Hindi GEC Rishtey gained 4.20 percent in ratings and a rank to fourth place with 611.891 million weekly impressions in week 27 as compared to week 26. Zeel’s FTA Hindi GEC lost a rank and 4.79 percent in ratings to come fifth in week 2017 with 564.640 million weekly impressions as compared to the previous week.

Network 18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors retained its sixth place in week 27, but lost 4.53 percent ratings as compared to the previous week. The channel garnered 557.186 million weekly impressions. SPN’s Hindi GEC Sony Pal gained a rank to seventh place and 2.81 percent in ratings in week 27 as compared to week 26. Sony Pal scored 549.929 million impressions. SPN’s Hindi Movies channels lost a rank to eighth place and 1.04 percent in ratings with 544.322 million weekly impressions.

The Sun TV Network’s flagship Telugu GEC Gemini came ninth in week 27, the same rank as week 26, but lost 2.03 percent in ratings with a score of 495.036 million weekly impressions. Star India’s Telugu GEC Star Maa entered the list with 477.390 million weekly impressions to tenth place, while Network 18’s Telugu GEC ETV Telugu exited the top 10 across genres list in week 27 of 2017.

July 18, 2017
Amagi to provide ad solutions to Sun TV Network

MUMBAI: Sun TV Network with the reach of more than 95 million households in India is commencing its business association with Amagi Media Labs. Amagi offers geo-targeted advertising solutions in 23 channels across 26 markets in India.

Amagi Media Labs is expanding its offerings by adding new HD channels of Sun TV Network Ltd. to its bouquet of channels who are offered targeted advertising solutions. The channels are — Sun TV HD, KTV HD, Sun Music HD, Gemini TV HD, Gemini Movies HD, Gemini Music HD Udaya TV HD & Surya TV HD, to help advertisers reach out to the niche Southern India audience. All HD channels from SUN TV network carry the same content as their SD counterpart.

Using Amagi’s technology, SUN TV network will monetise HD feed by separating HD feed from SD feed for which Amagi will have exclusive rights to sell.

Sun TV (SD) is leading Tamil GEC channel garners over a billion impressions every week with close to 90 per cent reach across TN. Sun TV HD has 40 per cent viewership from Chennai, 17 per cent from Bangalore and 43 per cent from Rest of TN.

KTV is a 24-hour Tamil movie television channel featuring Tamil films. KTV HD has 37 per cent viewers from Chennai, 15 per cent from Bangalore and 48 per cent from rest of TN.

Sun Music is a 24-hour music channel that features popular Tamil film music. Sun Music HD has 32 per cent viewers from Chennai, 2 per cent from Bangalore and 66 per cent from rest of TN.

Gemini TV is the leading Telugu television channel which is part of the Sun TV Network. The channel’s programming includes big ticket fictions, films, film-based programs, and game shows. Gemini TV HD has 6 per cent viewers from Hyderabad, 92 per cent from rest of AP and 2 per cent from Bangalore.

June 15, 2017
Hungama Play adds Telugu content in partnership with Sun TV & Maa TV

MUMBAI: Hungama Play has announced the addition of the best of Telugu content from south’s biggest entertainment conglomerates Sun TV Network and Maa TV. With this acquisition, the player plans to reiterate its focus on South Indian markets with the largest Telugu catalog in the app ecosystem. Of the total content library on Hungama Play, 25 percent of the movies are Telugu titles making it the second largest collection after Hindi movies.

Hungama Music has also tied-up with SIIMA – South Indian International Movie Awards, for the second consecutive year. SIIMA will be simulcast exclusively on Hungama Play. Subscribers will also be privy to behind the scenes action from the SIIMA event. Leading Telugu singers Srikrishna, Deepu, Saketh, Geeta Madhuri, Malavika, Pranavi, Anjana and many more will pay a tribute to S. Janaki exclusively on Hungama Play.

Known for its large and comprehensive regional library, Hungama Play aims to further expand the library by adding over 300 Telugu films from the Maa TV catalog along with future releases and over 220 films from the Sun Network library across all 4 Southern languages.

Speaking about the renewed focus on the Telugu market, Hungama.com CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “While the four south Indian languages constitute 38% of overall content consumption in India, Telugu is the third most consumed language on our app after Hindi and English respectively. Hence our association with market giants – Sun TV Network and Maa TV and our partnership with SIIMA further strengthens our resolve to deliver a unique experience to the Telugu speaking audience in their native language.”

Sun TV Network president R Mahesh Kumar said, “We are excited about the possibilities arising out of our association with Hungama, a digital distribution platform of impeccable lineage. Sun TV Network holds a large library of blockbusters and timeless classics with enduring appeal.”

Hungama Play has become the preferred video-on-demand service as it offers consumers a synergy of comprehensive, exclusive content and seamless technological intervention. With a host of exciting features like continuous streaming, adaptive bitrate streaming and Gamification, Hungama Play offers consumers an unparalleled experience.

June 17, 2016
Hungama Play adds Telugu content in partnership with Sun TV & Maa TV

MUMBAI: Hungama Play has announced the addition of the best of Telugu content from south’s biggest entertainment conglomerates Sun TV Network and Maa TV. With this acquisition, the player plans to reiterate its focus on South Indian markets with the largest Telugu catalog in the app ecosystem. Of the total content library on Hungama Play, 25 percent of the movies are Telugu titles making it the second largest collection after Hindi movies.

Hungama Music has also tied-up with SIIMA – South Indian International Movie Awards, for the second consecutive year. SIIMA will be simulcast exclusively on Hungama Play. Subscribers will also be privy to behind the scenes action from the SIIMA event. Leading Telugu singers Srikrishna, Deepu, Saketh, Geeta Madhuri, Malavika, Pranavi, Anjana and many more will pay a tribute to S. Janaki exclusively on Hungama Play.

Known for its large and comprehensive regional library, Hungama Play aims to further expand the library by adding over 300 Telugu films from the Maa TV catalog along with future releases and over 220 films from the Sun Network library across all 4 Southern languages.

Speaking about the renewed focus on the Telugu market, Hungama.com CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “While the four south Indian languages constitute 38% of overall content consumption in India, Telugu is the third most consumed language on our app after Hindi and English respectively. Hence our association with market giants – Sun TV Network and Maa TV and our partnership with SIIMA further strengthens our resolve to deliver a unique experience to the Telugu speaking audience in their native language.”

Sun TV Network president R Mahesh Kumar said, “We are excited about the possibilities arising out of our association with Hungama, a digital distribution platform of impeccable lineage. Sun TV Network holds a large library of blockbusters and timeless classics with enduring appeal.”

Hungama Play has become the preferred video-on-demand service as it offers consumers a synergy of comprehensive, exclusive content and seamless technological intervention. With a host of exciting features like continuous streaming, adaptive bitrate streaming and Gamification, Hungama Play offers consumers an unparalleled experience.

June 17, 2016