ITV

Tag: Sun TV

  • BARC week 42: DD National, Max, Asianet enter Top 10 channels list across genres

    BARC week 42: DD National, Max, Asianet enter Top 10 channels list across genres

    MUMBAI: Even as Tamil general entertainment channel (GEC) Sun TV continues to maintain its number one position across genres in India, there have been three new entrants in the list of Top 10 channels across genres. DD National, Sony Max and Malayalam GEC Asianet entered the top 10 list this week, according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) all India basis (U+R) data of week 42.

    Sun TV was the most watched channel in India in week 42 and grabbed pole position with 1151458 (000Sums) followed by Hindi GEC leader Star Plus in the second spot with 804448 (000Sums) and Colors in the third spot with 682422 (000Sums).

    Zee Network’s free to air (FTA) channel Zee Anmol grabbed fourth position with 652737 (000Sums) while Zee TV ranked fifth with 649798 (000Sums).

    DD National made its entry in the Top 10 list across genres at the sixth position with 567433(000Sums) followed by Hindi movies and events channel Sony Max, which made its debut in the seventh spot with 525073 (000Sums). Life OK was eighth on the list with 513149 (000Sums).

    Star India’s FTA channel Star Ustav bagged the ninth spot with 475386 (000Sums), while Asianet took hold of the tenth spot with 448820 (000Sums).

    Channels, which featured in the Top 10 list across genres in week 41 and failed to hold on to their positions in week 42 are Star Gold (sixth), Zee Cinema (tenth) and ETV Telugu (ninth).

  • BARC week 41: Sun TV is No 1 channel on All India basis

    BARC week 41: Sun TV is No 1 channel on All India basis

    MUMBAI: Despite the controversy surrounding its owners in recent times, Tamil general entertainment channel (GEC) – Sun TV has come out as the numero uno channel across genres on an All India basis with BARC India’s rural data rollout, and is even ahead of popular Hindi GECs like Star Plus and Colors.

    In week 41 of the BARC India data, Sun TV emerged as the leader across genres in the All India (Urban + Rural) market with 1153449 (000Sums).

    Hindi GECs, which dominated the Top 10 channels chart were Star Plus in the second spot, Colors at third and Zee TV in the fourth spot. The free to air (FTA) channel Zee Anmol grabbed the second position, while Star Utsav was in the seventh position, followed by Life OK in the eight spot.

    While the chart for the Top 10 channels across genres was mostly dominated by Hindi GECs, apart from Sun TV, another regional channel, which managed to appear on the list was ETV Telugu in the ninth position with 447160 (000Sums).

    Two Hindi movie channels namely Star Gold with 546919 (000Sums) and Zee Cinema with 427533 (000Sums) were amongst the top 10 channels across genres in the sixth and tenth position respectively.

  • Sun TV promoters have no intention of divesting stake

    Sun TV promoters have no intention of divesting stake

    MUMBAI: Contrary to what has been reported in certain section of the media, Sun TV promoters Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kaveri Kalanithi have no intention of divesting their stake in the company.

     

    In response to market speculations that Marans were looking to exit the company by divesting their shares to two private equity firms, Sun TV group chief financial officer (CFO) SL Narayanan rubbished reports while addressing the media at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Chennai.

     

    “The promoters have no plans to either divest or dilute their stake in the company. They will not cash out or exit Sun TV,” Narayanan firmly stated.

     

    What’s more, the network is also expecting an increase in subscriptions while the Phase III and IV of the TV digitisation continues, as per Narayanan. Sun TV’s subscription income for the year ended 31 March, 2015 was Rs 738 crore as compared to Rs 644 crore during the previous year.

     

    The company’s ad sales revenue also witnessed a growth of 6.5 per cent at to Rs 1,136.09 crore during the year ended 31 March, 2015 as compared to Rs 1,067.04 crore during the previous year.

     

    Apart from the case that Maran is fighting against charges of money laundering, the Sun TV Network was also in the news for being denied security clearance by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

     

    Moreover, according to media reports, Sun TV’s AGM also saw a shareholder raising concerns over the huge disparity in income of Kalanithi Maran and the company’s independent directors. It was reported that Maran and his wife took home a salary of Rs 61 crore each in the year ended 31 March. Juxtaposed to that, Sun TV’s independent directors get a fee of up to Rs 26,000.

     

    Despite the trials and tribulations that the company has been facing over the last few months, Narayanan remained optimistic about the company’s future. “We have been through difficult times and will come out completely unscathed. I am confident, at the end, truth will prevail and we will come out (with) flying colours,” he said.

  • MIB asks FM Phase III bidders to pay full amount by 1 October

    MIB asks FM Phase III bidders to pay full amount by 1 October

    NEW DELHI: All successful bidders for the 91 FM Radio channels in 54 cities that were announced yesterday in the first stage have been asked to pay the bid deposit – 25 per cent of the bid amount – by 21 September. The balance will have to be paid by 1 October. 

    Both amounts have to be paid by demand draft in the name of the Pay and Accounts Officer, Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

     

    At the same time, the Ministry warned that if the bid deposit is not received by the due date, the earnest money deposit (EMD) will be forfeited, and if the balance is not received by 1 October, the bid deposit and EMD will be forfeited.

     

    The Ministry also made it clear that this was without prejudice to any other action that it may take against defaulters.  

     

    While placing the results of 91 channels in fifty-four cities on the website of the Ministry, the frequency allocated and the successful bid amount was also stated.

     

    The Ministry said the results do not include the results of the bids by Sun TV, South Asia FM and Kal Radio in compliance with the orders of the Madras High Court.

     

    It also said the Centre had decided to file a special leave to appeal in the Supreme Court against the order of 26 July of the Delhi High Court of Delhi in the petitions by Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Ltd. & Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd. respectively.

     

    Even as the government withheld six results because of legal cases, Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL) emerged the largest gainer with 17 channels in its kitty. 

     

    Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd, Reliance Broadcast Network and DB Corp Ltd got 14 channels each. Meanwhile, Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd has got 11 channels and HT Media has 10 channels. Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd and Abhijeet Realtors and Infraventures Pvt Ltd got two channels each.

     

    Others who have successful bid and got one channel each are Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Pvt Ltd, Renderlive Films and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Sarthak Films Pvt Ltd, Abir Buildcon Pvt Ltd, Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co Pvt Ltd and Odisha Television Ltd.

     

    The auction was stopped on the 33rd day after just one round, with 97 channels in 56 cities became provisional winning channels with cumulative provisional winning price of about Rs 1156.9 crore against their aggregate reserve price of about Rs 459.8 crore.

  • DTH operators woo customers with lucrative offerings

    DTH operators woo customers with lucrative offerings

    The year has started on a good note for direct to home (DTH) subscribers. Even as Indian DTH players have seeded close to four million set-top-boxes (STBs) across the country in Q1-2015 alone, with growing competition and increasing digitization push, the companies are now also putting their best foot forward to woo more subscribers, while retaining existing ones.

     

    Going by the latest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report, almost 34.90 million DTH subscribers in India are inactive as against the total registered subscriber base of 76.05 million till the quarter ending March 2015. So while the DTH operators have been thumping their chests about adding new subscribers, their constant effort is channelized towards luring existing subscribers to stay on. And one such way to do that is by launching new products and services.

     

     

    As the year kicked off with the ICC Cricket World Cup and Indian Premiere League (IPL), DTH players got into overdrive mode early on with offerings galore. From Tata Sky launching 4K STBs, Videocon d2h rolling out a 4K Ultra HD multi genre channel, Dish TV offering discount packs, Sun Direct giving away an HD DVR connection at the cost of an HD connection on buying Samsung Curve to Airtel Digital TV’s UHD TV, it has been the year when DTH subscribers have been spoilt for choice.

     

     

    Over the past eight months, different players have come up with different strategies to increase subscription as well as add more active subscribers.

     

    Here’s a lowdown on who did what:

     

    Dish TV

     

    The DTH operator, which had in 2014 created a sub-brand called Zing, started the year by launching Zing for the Tamil Nadu market. Dish TV had introduced the sub-brand to cater to the specific needs of consumers in different regions and also give competition to the cable industry. Through this, Dish TV offered more than 145 channels, including 49 Tamil channels and services in a mere price of Rs 99 per month. Soon after, the operator launched Zing for the Kerala region as well. This time, it gave more than 150 channels, including 16 Malayalam channels at Rs 99 per month.

     

    Cashing in on the IPL, Dish TV, which was one of the sponsors for Kolkata Knight Riders, introduced a special Cricket+ package to increase its subscription revenues as well as the entertainment quotient.

     

    Dish TV, in order to get the ‘Art of Living’ lovers onboard launched Anandam Active to showcase the teachings of the spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar. The service was made available to the subscribers of Dish TV with a monthly subscription fee of Rs 59 per month.

     

    “It has been our constant endeavour to make television viewing a wholesome experience for the entire family. We have always believed in offering unique content to our subscribers,” Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor had then said.

     

    Soon after, in order to lure music lovers, Dish TV tied up with Hungama to launch ‘Music Active Service.’ The service was launched to enhance Dish TV’s portfolio in the field of VAS and music and provide unlimited music to subscribers. While it launched the service at an introductory price of Rs 35 till 31 October, it will be priced at Rs 45 starting 1 November.

     

    The platform has something for everyone. In order to satiate the needs of movie lovers, Dish TV launched its first Home Video System – DishFlix. With this first of its kind push VOD service, Dish TV aims to empower consumers to enjoy uninterrupted ad-free entertainment. Through the service, viewers will be able to pause, play, fast forward and rewind movies or TV shows at their own convenience. Another unique feature is that this service will not require an internet connection as the content will be pushed to the customer’s STB via satellite. The customers for the service will need a DishFlix Box, which is priced at Rs 5990 that comes preloaded with 50 movies. Out of these, 15 movies will be refreshed every month on FIFO (First in First Out) basis (one new movie every two days) so that the viewable movie library is always updated. The monthly subscription to Flix studio is Rs 100.

     

    Tata Sky

     

    Tata Sky started its year with the launch of first 4K STB in India at a time when the country was preparing for the biggest cricketing extravaganza, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. While for the new subscribers, the 4K box was available for Rs 6400, existing subscribers could avail the box at Rs 5900.

     

    Soon after, the DTH operator decided to disrupt the market by making DTH connections affordable for its customers. Keeping this in mind, the operator launched the ‘Daily Recharge’ voucher, which empowered subscribers to pay only for the day they watched TV at Rs 8. This also became the smallest denomination of recharge voucher in the television-viewing sector globally. Tata Sky’s aim was to make inroads into untapped markets.

     

    “This initiative elevates the DTH sector by redefining the pace of digitization and reach to markets nationwide,” said Tata Sky MD & CEO Harit Nagpal at the time of launching the service.

     

    The latest addition to the DTH operator’s offering is its new upgraded STB – Tata Sky+ Transfer, which will enable users to transfer the recorded content onto alternative screens. The new product addresses the growing consumption of video on the move, through smartphones, tablets and other alternative screens. The new STB, which is priced at Rs 9300 for new subscribers and Rs 7200, for existing customers, will work on a Wi-Fi connection.

     

    Videocon d2h

     

    For Videocon d2h, the highlight of the year has been the launch of the first 24-hour 4K Ultra HD multi genre channel in January. The 4K Ultra HD channel is a content pipe that can carry multi genre feeds like movies, video on demand, travel, infotainment, sports etc provided by international broadcasters or independent content providers. The channel was launched just before the ICC Cricket World Cup, thus enabling subscribers to experience the sport in 4K Ultra HD.

     

    In June, the company unveiled its new initiative aimed at preschool and elementary school aged children with the launch of SMART Services. This comprised value-added bouquet of learning activities and games available exclusively to Videocon d2h subscribers at a subscription rate of Rs 45 per month. The banner included Smart Learning, Smart Kids and Smart Games, all available on subscription basis.

     

    Airtel Digital TV

     

    Airtel Digital TV was the first to launch indigenously manufactured STBs, in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. The STBs have been made available in HD and soon all of Airtel Digital TV’s STBs will be manufactured in India. These indigenous Airtel Digital TV HD+ STBs offer features like – Full HD 1080p support, MPEG-4 video with Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound; 5X picture clarity; unlimited recording (via USB-drive); and USB-based Wi-Fi connectivity for On-demand, Anytime TV and Interactive Gaming.

     

    In order to make available DTH account details easily, Airtel Digital TV launched the missed call service for customers. Through this, customers can get their DTH account details on their mobile number by just giving a missed call on 08130081300. The service is completely free of cost for all Airtel Digital TV customers and provides information regarding customer ID, balance and validity, package name, monthly rental, base package rental, top up rental, last recharge date and amount and number of connections to customers on an SMS within five seconds of the missed call.

     

    The company also rolled out an innovative and easy to use Self-Care application for television sets, a first-of-its kind by a DTH service provider. A TV replica of the ‘My Airtel mobile app,’ the Self-Care enables customers within Airtel Digital TV HD STBs could easily access their account details real-time on their TV sets. The app can be accessed by connecting the STB to an internet connection via a LAN cable or with the help of the newly launched plug and play Wi-Fi dongle– Airtel Infinity.

     

    Sun Direct

     

    DTH operator Sun Direct wooed its customers during the two mega sporting events of the year – the ICC Cricket World Cup and IPL. The platform, which believes that events like these help increase its existing subscriber base, came up with special packs during the World Cup and IPL. While it offered the Star Sports bouquet on its bestselling Cinema+Sports pack for the World Cup, it provided Sony Six, the official broadcaster for the league free to new customers in order to incentivize them during the IPL.

     

    Sun Direct offered the Cinema+Sports package at Rs 195 per month during WC and focused on the pack in order to fulfill the requirements of its customers, during the cricketing season.

     

    During IPL, the operator also provided IPL add-on free for customers, who recharged beyond six months. That apart, Sun Direct also came up with an add-on for Rs 44, which allowed customers to watch the T20 matches for the entire duration of the tournament. “We see the IPL as a good tool to win back customers and improve our recharges substantially,” Sun Direct CEO Mahesh Kumar had earlier told Indiantelevision.com.

     

    While DTH operators have been putting their money where the mouth is by launching innovations as well as technological upgrades, the fact remains that close to 45 per cent of DTH subscribers are inactive in India. Going by this figure, DTH players will have to ramp-up their offerings to ensure that those coming onboard stay with them on as loyal customers in the long run.

  • Sun TV loads South Indian languages films on HOOQ in multi-year deal

    Sun TV loads South Indian languages films on HOOQ in multi-year deal

    MUMBAI: The OTT acceleration in India is rapidly getting recognition from film and television companies. After collaborating with the likes of Yash Raj Films and Shemaroo Entertainment, OTT player HOOQ has now joined hands with top South Indian broadcaster Sun TV in a multi-year deal.

    HOOQ will carry Sun TV’s library that includes a mix of super hit films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. 

    Sun TV group CEO S L Narayanan said, “We are excited about the possibilities arising out of our association with HOOQ, a digital distribution platform of impeccable lineage. Sun TV holds a large library of blockbusters and timeless classics with enduring appeal.”

    “Sun TV Network’s extensive library with titles from Tamil to Malayalam will help us ensure we have something for everyone in India. More importantly, we want our customers to continue to enjoy the largest and best catalogue of Hollywood and Indian content of any service available today,” added HOOQ CEO Peter Bithos.

    It may be recalled that Asian OTT player HOOQ recently set shop in India with over 30,000 hours  of movies and TV series.

  • M&E stocks take a beating as Sensex crashes 1600+ points; NDTV worst hit

    M&E stocks take a beating as Sensex crashes 1600+ points; NDTV worst hit

    MUMBAI: Triggered by global concerns over China’s falling economy and its impact on global markets, the benchmark BSE Sensex witnessed bloodbath on Monday, 24 August as it closed the day at 25,741.56, down 1,624.51 points (5.94 per cent). This is one of the biggest fall since 2009.

     

    Moreover, the Nifty was also down 490.95 points (5.92 per cent) to close at 7809.

     

    According to media reports, on the back of the market meltdown, investors lost more than Rs 7 lakh crore. The downfall not only left the major oil, goods and bank companies in the red but the Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) companies were also badly hit. 

     

    In the media sector, news company NDTV India was the worst hit as it fell 16.27 per cent to close the day at Rs 88.50. This was followed by TV Today, which witnessed a fall of 13.99 per cent to close the day’s trade at Rs 192.15. On the other hand, multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable & Datacom at Rs 40.05 was down 13.78 per cent.

     

    Some of the other major M&E companies like Balaji Telefilms, direct to home (DTH) company Dish TV and Sun TV Network were not spared either. While Balaji Telefilms was down 12.31 per cent to close the day at Rs 72.65, Dish TV was down 11.85 per cent at Rs 96.35. The Maran owned Sun TV dipped 11.63 per cent to close at Rs 298.50.

     

    Eros International Media closed at Rs 441.95 after registering a 11.60 per cent decline. Even music companies were not left untouched from the stock market waves. Shemaroo Entertainment, Saregama and Tips recorded a fall of 10.74 per cent, 9.98 per cent and 9.53 per cent respectively.

     

    Other media companies including DQ Entertainment, Network18, B.A.G Films and Entertainment Network India Ltd (ENIL) were down by 9.38 per cent, 8.78 per cent, 8.59 per cent and 7.33 per cent respectively.

     

    The Dhoot family owned DTH company Videocon d2h was the sole company unaffected by the fall of the Sensex. The company’s stock was up by 0.33 per cent and closed at Rs 137. 75.

     

    Some of the companies, which were not as impacted as much were Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), which was down 6.11 per cent to end the day at Rs 359.65, Jagran Prakashan (down 5.20 per cent) and MSO Siti Cable (down 5 per cent). 

     

    HT Media bore a loss of 2.84 per cent, whereas the Orissa based MSO Ortel Communications was down 2.27 per cent to close the day’s trade at Rs 202.30. 

     

    Ascribing the market crash to global turbulence, finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the government along with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was watching the situation and hoped that things will stabilise once the transient impact is over.

  • SC stays ED proceedings in Aircel-Maxis case to attach Sun TV assets

    SC stays ED proceedings in Aircel-Maxis case to attach Sun TV assets

    NEW DELHI: For the second time within a month, the Supreme Court has come to the rescue of the beleaguered Sun TV group owned by the Maran brothers.

     

    Earlier on 26 July, the apex Court had permitted the FM channels associated with the group to take part in the e-auctions that commenced on 27 July.

     

    The SC today stayed the attachment proceedings before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Adjudicating Authority against Sun TV assets of the Maran brothers in the Aircel-Maxis case.

     

    The Court, however, said the provisional attachment order issued by the ED would stay alive even if the 180-day period for confirming the attachment order is over.

     

    ED had ordered provisional attachment of assets of Sun TV worth Rs 742 crore allegedly linked to the Aircel-Maxis deal. The attachment order was under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

     

    Sun TV had approached the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order refusing to hear their plea against the provisional attachment on the grounds that the case was linked to the 2G spectrum scam, which is already pending before the bench headed by the Chief Justice of the apex court.

  • MIB awaits note on Sun security clearance denial from Home Ministry before moving SC

    MIB awaits note on Sun security clearance denial from Home Ministry before moving SC

    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is still awaiting detailed instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs on rejection of security clearance to the Sun TV group, even as the Government appears to have made up its mind to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging orders of the Delhi and Madras High Courts with regard to the Sun TV group participating in FM Phase III e-auctions.

     

    An MIB official told Indiantelevision.com that the Home Ministry had been asked earlier and also later reminded to send a detailed note on its reasons for rejection of security clearance. The official added that it is the MIB, which will file the SLP being the Ministry dealing with FM Radio and therefore it needed to be clear on the reasons for rejection of security clearance.

     

    Meanwhile, it is learnt that top officials of the Home Ministry are taking legal opinion on the issue of framing an SLP to challenge the 26 July order by the Delhi High Court and that of the Madras High Court earlier. 

     

    The Delhi High Court had allowed Red FM, which is owned by Sun TV, to participate in Phase III of the first FM e-auction, which commenced on 27 July.

     

    It is expected that the government will take the ground that the two courts had not taken into consideration: the pending criminal charges against Sun Group promoters including Kalanithi Maran, who is one of the Directors of Red FM, and the implication it has on national and economic security.

     

    Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva of the Delhi High Court had said Clause 3.8 of the Notice Inviting Applications for the auction had reference only to the company and its directors and there is no mention of its shareholders. Both Dayanidhi Maran and Kalanithi Maran are shareholders and therefore the Clause does not apply to them.

    The Court had said Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd and Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Ltd, which run Red FM in these two cities have not been alleged to be vehicles of any transgression of law and have been functioning since 2002-2003 without there being any allegation regarding their functioning resulting in any security concerns.

  • Dayanidhi Maran’s arrest stayed by Supreme Court

    Dayanidhi Maran’s arrest stayed by Supreme Court

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today stayed the Madras High Court order cancelling former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran’s anticipatory bail in the illegal telephone exchange case.

     

    Issuing notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to reply within two weeks, the court listed the matter for 14 September.

     

    Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appearing for CBI referred to the facts of the case to stress that it was a huge corruption case and said, “Maran used clout in government to fix lines for use of the huge media house Sun TV. We want his custody to prove the conspiracy involving Maran, Sun TV network and BSNL.”

     

    Maran had argued that bail is cancelled only when there is danger of the person fleeing the country or influencing the witnesses in the case. In this case, he contended that neither apprehension was considered or sounded out in the High Court order. He contended that the CBI had sought the cancellation of his bail only to humiliate him.

     

    Justice T S Thakur and Justice V. Gopala Gowda questioned both Maran’s counsel Shyam Diwan and Rohatgi before giving their order.

     

    Justice Thakur asked whether political vendetta was behind the push for Maran’s arrest. Asking the CBI whether it was trying to “fix” him, Justice Thakur asked, “Why do the CBI need to arrest a man for Rs 1 crore pending phone bills? When the FIR was filed in 2013, why did you not make any arrest? What were you doing for nearly three years?”

     

    “If you think the phone lines were fixed as part of conspiracy, question him, question the BSNL officials. Why arrest him?” he said.

     

    “Is it a matter of prestige for you to arrest him? Nobody should get away after causing public loss but custodial interrogation? How did you assess the Rs 1 crore loss? You say no bills were raised. Anyway he is willing to pay. You raise the bill now and he will pay up,” Justice Thakur said.

     

    Diwan added, “There is no criminality in this case, only monetary claim. We will pay if any dues.”

     

    Earlier, the former Telecom Minister argued that the Madras High Court did not consider the legal circumstances before cancellation of bail and the order was an error in law.

     

    According to the prosecution, Maran as Minister entered into a criminal conspiracy with officials of the BSNL and by abusing their official positions, caused a huge financial loss and wrongful loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 1.78 crore.

     

    The prosecution alleged that the former Minister installed over 300 telephone connections in his residence in the name of the accused government servants to show these connections illegally under “service category,” thereby making no payments for the installation and rentals.

     

    Maran was granted anticipatory bail for six weeks on the condition that he would cooperate with the agency in the investigation.