ITV

Tag: Television

  • Golden era of music comes alive in all its glory on 92.7 Big FM’s new show ‘Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor’

    Golden era of music comes alive in all its glory on 92.7 Big FM’s new show ‘Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor’

    MUMBAI, June 19, 2013: From foot tapping dance numbers and lyrical love songs to soulful melodies and the finest classical music, the Indian Film industry has given audiences a chance to enjoy some of the most beautiful and critically acclaimed music in over 100 years of existence. And, starting Monday 24th June, 2013, 92.7 BIG FM Mumbai will provide listeners with the opportunity to relive the Golden Era of Indian Cinema with its brand-new show ‘Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor’, every Monday to Friday between 10am and 12noon. The show was launched in style as yesteryear’s most revered personalities like actors Asha Parekh, Vidya Sinha and Dheeraj Kumar, music directors Anand-ji and Pyarelal-ji, singer Anwar and lyricist Sameer representing his legendary father Anjaan Sahab, joined actor Annu Kapoor and 92.7 BIG FM’s RJ Anirudh to relive the memories of some of their most celebrated blockbusters. 

    Covering the period between 1955 and 1985, ‘Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor’ is a one-of-its-kind radio show that will give 92.7 BIG FM listeners a chance to experience the joys of listening to evergreen songs that have entertained audiences in days gone by. Hosted by the affable Annu Kapoor, ‘Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor’ will enable listeners to relive the golden era year-by-year while taking them on an exhilarating journey where the actor will narrate behind-the-scene incidents, interesting facts and trivia about the movies and play the top 12 songs of a particular year.

    While songs from the era are etched in our minds, the stories behind these glorious melodies are relatively unknown. ‘Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor’ promises to make your morning drive to work an immensely pleasurable time with evergreen songs and the stories around their making. The romantic, melodious, lyrically charming, meticulously orchestrated and harmoniously sung songs of the golden-era are a treat to the senses and epitomize Hindi film music’s finest period.

    Speaking about radio debut, Annu Kapoor said, “In this new medium of radio, I would like to share my experience with my audience through the tremendous heritage of melodious music from 1955-1985 and untold stories and trivia which I have learnt while working with and interacting with great directors and producers throughout my career of 31 years in the city. This is what I offer to my audience, a pure source of entertainment; and I hope my listeners will appreciate this program, untold stories and melodious music of the Golden Era and I will try my best to entertain everyone.”

    Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 BIG FM said, “Hindi songs from the Golden Era of Indian Cinema are timeless musical pieces that hold a special place in the hearts of everyone regardless of their age. Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor is our endeavour to present listeners with the perfect aural entertainment experience that takes them on an incredible journey of these evergreen songs peppered with the stories that make them special. Annu Kapoor’s credibility and knowledge of the retro period makes him our most preferred host. The unique content mix provides for multiple opportunities to engage listeners and marketers alike.”

    To ensure maximized reach, the show will be promoted through a multi-media marketing campaign across radio, television, outdoor, on ground and social media.

  • Google to use balloons to spread internet reach

    Google to use balloons to spread internet reach

    MUMBAI: Google has come up with an innovative way to spread the reach of the internet to a billion or more new people, including small villages and cities outside of major urban areas in south east Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

    To achieve this purpose the company will use special balloons to broadcast the wireless connection.

    A report in The Wall Street Journal states that the aim is to use a combination of CPUs and Android phones to connect a much larger wireless network, utilising airwaves primarily used for television broadcasts.

    The networks also could be used to improve internet speeds in urban centers. Google plans to team up with local telecom companies and equipment providers in the emerging markets to develop the networks, as well as create business models to support them, these people said. It is unclear whether Google already has lined up such deals or alliances the report adds.

  • Dentsu Marcom has launched a new TVC for Pass Pass

    Dentsu Marcom has launched a new TVC for Pass Pass

    MUMBAI: The mouth freshener brand ‘Pass Pass‘ has launched a new television campaign, which targets people of all ages.

    The campaign showcases people from different ages coming together which also portray a family as a new friend.

    The brand creates a world that enables such moments in many different ways for all kinds of people, using different touch points in the ecosystem: social media, radio, real-world experiential engagement, and point of sale activities.

    The film opens with a young woman opening the window of a car, letting the sunshine in and taking in fresh air. Then there is a young woman walking away after having opened a door, followed by a man and a woman whose hands touch as they are passing by and the woman turns around and walks away smiling. After this, a man coming up and greets a young lady who is holding a Pass Pass family pack seated with her friends. The scene cuts to a middle-aged man picking up his woman, almost suddenly, in an open field. Then there is a bunch of young men and women holding hands on a terrace and grooving to music, as one of them passes on a sachet of Pass Pass.

    More people come together and connect as a young man teaches a much older woman how to ride a scooter, or youngsters bond over a bonfire and a guitar tune. The film ends with people from all age groups coming together and sharing moments over a dinner on a terrace lit by lamps.

    The campaign is created by Dentsu Marcom, directed by Shashank Chaturvedi (Bob), produced by Good Morning Films and the music is composed by Anand.

    The brand has used mediums like television, digital, radio and BTL activations and POP materials to promote the product.

  • TV Today telecasts 16 per cent net profit rise in FY 2013

    TV Today telecasts 16 per cent net profit rise in FY 2013

    MUMBAI: Its FM radio broadcasting business is on the turnaround trail. And that – apart from its mainstay its news TV channels Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Dilli Aaj Tak and Tezz- has helped Living Media India Ltd’s (The India Today group’s) television & FM radio broadcasting arm, TV Today Network, post a pleasing 16 per cent rise in its net profit in the year ended 31 March 2013. However, its Q4 2013 net profit has fallen 13.3 per cent against the corresponding previous year’s Q4-2012.

    TV Today Network has been one of the more efficiently run news organisations in the Indian news broadcasting sector and has been reporting profits for some time now. Other listed news TV organisations have been bleeding and have just about starting showing profits. Hence, its Q4-2013 results appear to be just an aberration.

    Let us look at the standalone Q4-2013 financials as against Q4-2012

    Q4-2013 total revenues stand at Rs 84.27 crore, a drop of over 4.7 per cent as against last corresponding Q4-2012’s Rs 88.46 crore. Its TV broadcasting business contributes nearly 97 per cent at Rs 81.63 crore to its revenues while its FM radio broadcasting operations through its channel ‘Oye 104.8’ generated Rs 2.64 crore.

    The broadcaster has managed to pare some of its expenses at Rs 77.89 crore in Q4-2013 as against last corresponding Q4-2012’s Rs 78.33 crore. The marginal difference is on account of its production costs being reduced to Rs 10.36 crore (Rs 11.24 crore).

    Even though the company has seen a 13 per cent reduction in its net profit for Q4-2013 to Rs 6.36 crore (as against Q4-2012’s Rs 7.33 crore), what is heartening is the narrowing of its losses from its FM radio division in Q4-2013 to Rs 2.74 crore from Rs 4.46 crore in Q4-2012.

    Let us take a look at the consolidated financials for the year ending 31 March 2013

    As mentioned earlier, efficient management of its FM radio operations has helped TV Today Network in FY-2013. Its net profit for FY-2013 had a handsome increase of 16 per cent to Rs 12.21 crore (Rs 10.52 crore in FY-2012). A large part of this increase can be attributed to the decrease in losses at its FM radio division to Rs 13.24 crore from Rs 18.59 crore in FY-2012.

    Total revenue for FY 2013 rose to Rs 312.66 crore as against FY-2012’s Rs 308.43 crore with TV broadcasting revenues contributing Rs 302.69 crore as against Rs 300 crore in FY-2012. Its FM radio division chipped in with Rs 9.98 crore as against Rs 8.09 crore last fiscal.

    The company claims that its profits have been squeezed further on account of its payments to BSNL and Prasar Bharti amounting to Rs 80 lakh and monitoring charges for foreign satellite amounting to Rs 76.91 lakh.

    From the short term perspective, its current liabilities including trade payables have significantly increased to Rs 128.39 crore in FY-2013 as against Rs 94.16 crore in FY-2012, a worrying 36 per cent rise, especially when its current assets have shot by only 24 per cent during the same period.

    TV Today Network has made a strategic investment of Rs 45.52 crore in Mail Today Newspapers which is bringing out a daily newspaper in the north. Though Mail Today is in the initial stages of operations and presently incurring losses, the company holds a confident outlook of its future profitability.

    The company has announced a 15 per cent dividend, even as the share closed at Rs 84.85 by the time trading ended on BSE.

  • Network18 Media on a turnaround trail

    Network18 Media on a turnaround trail

    MUMBAI: The Network18 group is doing very well, thank you. The group’s media holding company Network18 Media & Investments has reported results which show that the management led by managing director Raghav Bahl and group CEO B. Saikumar is slowly but surely driving it back to profits.

    The company has reported revenues of Rs 679.5 crore in Q4 FY 2013 as against Rs 697.4 crore in Q3 FY 2013. Revenues for the full financial year ending 31 March 2013 are at Rs 2400.8 crore as against Rs 1943.8 crore – a jump of 23.51 per cent. This was driven primarily by an almost doubling in revenues from its digital content and ecommerce vertical to Rs 400.9 crore (from Rs 233.8 crore) for the whole year. Its television and motion picture vertical too leaped ahead 36.62 per cent in revenues to Rs 1725.5 crore (Rs 1262.9 crore).

    The company shaved off its operating expenses for Q4 2013 to Rs 666.8 crore from Rs 686.8 crore in Q3 FY 2013. For the whole year ending 31 March 2013, its operating expenses rose to Rs 2440.1 crore (Rs 2239.9 crore).

    Operating profits for the group during Q4 2013 were at Rs 12.8 crore against Rs 10.6 crore during Q3 FY 2013 keeping its operating margin at 2 per cent. During Q4 FY 2013, there was a drop in the company’s television and motion picture unit’s operating profits to Rs 34.6 crore (from Rs 48.1 crore). The operating losses for its digital content and e-commerce vertical fell to Rs 24.3 crore from Rs 31.3 crore in this period. The operating margins for its television and motion picture business in Q4 FY 2013 decreased to seven per cent (nine per cent in Q3 FY 2013).

    For the whole year, there has been a drastic reduction in its operating losses to Rs 39.2 crore (Rs 296 crore). Its television and motion picture business which reported operating profits of Rs 107.1 crore (Rs 1.6 c rore) and allied businesses (publishing), which saw a decrease in losses to Rs 46.9 crore from Rs 118.8 crore, helped staunch the red ink. Its digital and e-commerce business continued to lose money operationally with an operating loss of Rs 125.4 crore (Rs 126.3 crore). The operating margins for its TV and motion pictures have improved from 0 to 6 per cent for the full year.

    Network18’s consolidated debt as on 31 March 2013 stood at Rs 211 crore, down 90 per cent from Rs 2130 crore at the end of FY12.

    Interest costs for Q4 FY 2013 were reduced to Rs 38.9 crore (Rs 53.1 crore in Q3 FY 2013). For the whole year it managed to keep its interest cost under control at Rs 272 crore (Rs 270.7 crore in FY 2012).
    It managed to report a net profit of Rs 50 lakh in Q4 FY 2013 (Rs 6.8 crore in Q3 Fy 2013). For the full year, it managed to improve its bottomline with a reduction in losses to Rs 105.5 crore (Rs 392.7 crore).

    During the year, Network18 profitably sold its entire stake in Newswire18, divested its Yellow Pages and Askme businesses and diluted its majority stake in Book My Show. These transactions, in line with the strategy to exit non-core businesses, added Rs 180 crore to the annual profit and raised Rs 235 crore for the Network18 Group.

    Says Bahl: “We are delighted to inform our investors and stakeholders that at both Network18 and TV18, we have successfully deleveraged our balance sheets and have delivered strong operating performances. Network18s and TV18s net debt now stands at less than one-fifth of the peak levels and our interest payments have come down sharply. We are confident that we are now entering a sustained value creation phase in our journey as we continue to strengthen our existing operations and consolidate our regional acquisition.”

    Adds B. Saikumar: “We are extremely pleased that our digital and broadcast operations have turned in a sustained and healthy operating performance during the year despite softness in the advertising environment. Our e-commerce businesses have turned in another stellar year and our digital content businesses continue to grow steadily. We are now on a solid net distribution income trajectory and while our flagship channels like CNBC TV18/Awaaz, Colors and CNN IBN continue to perform admirably, we are also enthused by the performance of recent launches and the motion pictures business. Inspite of near term challenges given the macro-economic headwinds, we are hopeful of delivering a strong year ahead.”

  • The future of television rests in apps: Netflix

    The future of television rests in apps: Netflix

    MUMBAI: OTT subscription service Netflix has published a report called Long Term View. The report says that the evolution to Internet TV apps is already starting. It notes that existing networks, such as ESPN and HBO that offer amazing apps will get more viewing than in the past, and be more valuable. Existing networks that fail to develop first-class apps will lose viewing and revenue.

    “Apps that provide on-demand viewing are critical because people don‘t love the linear TV experience where channels present programmes at particular times on non-portable screens with complicated remote controls. Finding good things to watch isn‘t easy or enjoyable. In addition to Netflix, most of the world‘s leading linear TV networks are moving into Internet TV,” Netflix says.

    It has given the examples of HBO and ESPN. ESPN, Netflix notes will keep improving their app to try to stay ahead of MLB.tv, which it says is another terrific Internet TV sports app.

    “The HBO Go app makes HBO‘s films and series much more accessible than on HBO‘s linear channel. The BBC iPlayer app in the UK provides a rich and popular on-demand interface for a wide range of BBC programming. The other major linear networks are not far behind,” according to Netflix.

    Netflix adds that while Internet TV is only a very small per cent of video viewing today, the expectation is that it will grow every year because:

    1. The Internet will get faster, more reliable and more available;
    2. Smart TV sales will increase and eventually every TV will have Wifi and apps;
    3. Smart TV adapters (Roku, AppleTV, etc.) will get less expensive and better;
    4. Tablet and smartphone viewing will increase;
    5. Tablets and smartphones will be used as touch interfaces for Internet TV;
    6. Internet TV apps will rapidly improve through competition and frequent updates;
    7. Streaming 4k video will happen long before linear TV supports 4k video;
    8. Internet video advertising will be personalized and relevant;
    9. TV Everywhere will provide a smooth economic transition for existing networks;
    10. New entrants like Netflix are innovating rapidly.

    Netflix goes on to note that eventually, as linear TV is viewed less, the spectrum it now uses on cable and fibre will be reallocated to expanding data transmission. Satellite TV subscribers will be fewer, and mostly be in places where high-speed Internet (cable or fibre) is not available. The importance of high-speed Internet will increase.
     
    It cites examples of this transformation taking place in different nations. “In the UK, for example, the BBC is already starting to programme more for its iPlayer app than for its linear channels, given the large and growing viewing on the iPlayer. For most existing networks, this economic transition will occur through TV Everywhere. If a consumer continues to subscribe to linear TV from a multi-channel video programme distributor (MVPD), they get a password to use the Internet apps for the networks they subscribe to on linear.”

    The key to avoid cord cutting for networks, according to Netflix, is to keep their prime-time programming behind the authentication wall. It proposes that same consumer who today finds it worthwhile to pay for a linear TV package will likely pay for a ‘linear plus apps‘ package. Netflix further says that Internet TV apps will improve just like the mobile phone over the next 20 years.

    In addition to creating opportunity for linear networks, the emergence of Internet TV also enables new apps like Netflix, YouTube, MLB.tv, and iTunes to build large scale direct-to-consumer services that are independent of the traditional MVPD bundle. Netflix notes that while it competes for entertainment time with traditional networks, the scope of such time is quite large. Consumer time devoted to web browsing and video games, for instance, has expanded hugely over the last two decades without a corresponding diminution of TV viewing.

  • RRsat to provide sports distribution solutions to SIS Live

    RRsat to provide sports distribution solutions to SIS Live

    MUMBAI: RRsat Global Communications Network has entered into an agreement with SIS Live to provide international sports distribution solutions for the Asian market, including uplink and downlink services, satellite-to-satellite turnaround and fiber-to-satellite transmissions as well as other services.

    RRsat, which is a digital content management and global distribution services provider to the television and radio broadcasting industries, was chosen by SIS Live as its partner for providing services for the European Tour Productions golf coverage. RRsat will provide SIS Live solutions for distributing live golf events to and from Asia.

    SIS Live owns and operates a wide portfolio of services including the largest fleet of outside broadcast and uplink vehicles in Europe.

    This engagement with SIS Live establishes a longstanding mutual cooperation which includes a custom fiber link created by RRsat and SIS Live to allow the latter to transfer content directly from its UK teleport to the RRsat Emek Ha‘Ela teleport for uplink and distribution to premium cable headends in the Asian market.
    SIS Live is also RRsat‘s preferred supplier for European teleport and turnaround services to RRsat‘s extensive customer base.

    “We are pleased to extend our close and successful working relationship with RRsat by utilizing their excellent solutions to ensure high quality live broadcasts of international golf coverage to viewers across Asia,” said SIS Live MD David Meynell.

    “RRsat complements SIS Live‘s extensive offerings by providing value-added services and robust access to a global satellite and fiber network. This partnership will enable us to provide enhanced services to our customers.”

    “RRsat is proud to partner with SIS Live, one of the world‘s leading companies in the television broadcasting industry .Together, we work to simplify event coverage and delivery from any site to any destination at highest broadcast quality via our downlink, turnaround and uplink services, as well as via the RRsat fiber network,” said RRsat Global Communications Network CEO Avi Cohen.

    “In addition, RRsat is glad to partner with a high profile and well-respected broadcasting company for Europe and the Americas. We look forward to supporting SIS Live‘s ongoing success by continuing to provide them with cutting edge global distribution solutions.”

  • NDTV to set up subsidiary for convergence & tech biz; plans to enter e-commerce

    NDTV to set up subsidiary for convergence & tech biz; plans to enter e-commerce

    MUMBAI: News broadcaster New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) is setting up a new subsidiary where it will park its convergence and technology businesses.

     

    The company has also decided to enter into e-commerce business through its subsidiary, NDTV Worldwide.

     

    In the restructured form, NDTV Ltd will, thus, have four subsidiaries, each looking after a separate business. While NDTV News will take care of the news broadcasting business, NDTV Worldwide will be responsible for the media consultancy and e-commerce part. NDTV Network will constitute the lifestyle business and the fourth subsidiary will combine Convergence and NDTV Labs, which will manage the content delivery aspect of NDTV’s business.

        
    As part of an exercise to simplify the structure, NDTV Labs will get merged into NDTV Convergence. “This was the most natural step to take. Convergence is a growing business,” said NDTV Group vice-chairperson KVL Narayan Rao said.

     

    NDTV Convergence was set up to exploit the synergies between television, Internet and mobile and it also owns the website ndtv.com. NDTV Labs focuses on development of broadcast graphics systems.

     

    Asked if NDTV is merging the step-down subsidiaries for raising capital or bringing in an investor, Rao said, “This is not why it is being done. Convergence is self-funded.”

     

    For the year ended 31 March 2012, NDTV Convergence recorded a fivefold jump in net profit. Revenue rose by 60 per cent over the last fiscal year.

     

    NDTV WorldWide also turned profitable. Net profit doubled in the fiscal ended 31 March 2012, while revenue tripled over the year-ago period. NDTV, however, does not disclose the exact financials of these two outfits.

  • Rentrak ties up with MRSS for box office data from India

    Rentrak ties up with MRSS for box office data from India

    MUMBAI: US-based Rentrak Corporation, a leading multi-screen media measurement agency serving the advertising, television and movie industries, has collaborated with independent marketing research firm Majestic Market Research for the collection of movie box office grosses in India.

    Under terms of the agreement, Rentrak‘s International Box Office Essentials will be using Indian box office data sourced by Majestic MRSS. Rentrak will be using Majestic‘s local expertise to help expand its reach in the region.

    “India is a huge box office market and one where studio returns are steadily increasing. In order to effectively conduct business in the global theatrical industry, clients want visibility into our region,” said Majestic Market Research Co-Founder & President (Global) Raj Sharma.

    “As Rentrak continues to grow international coverage, which now includes the operation and collection of theatre-level attendance and box office information from 36 countries, the inclusion of one of the world‘s top box office markets to the International Box Office Essentials service is a powerful addition for our clients. Rentrak is thrilled to now be supporting India‘s famed film production heritage with our global box office reporting capabilities,” said Rentrak‘s Theatrical Worldwide President Ron Giambra.

  • Third Indian Screenwriters conference in Mumbai from 25-27 Feb

    Third Indian Screenwriters conference in Mumbai from 25-27 Feb

    MUMBAI: The 3rd Indian Screenwriters‘ conference will be held from 25 to 27 February at Bandra in Mumbai.

    Organised by the Film Writers Association (FWA), the conference will be attended by a host of senior writer-directors from the industry and experienced lawyers and legal experts. But, there is a hitch, only members of the FWA are eligible to attend the event. Non-members will need to register as members first.

    The agenda of the conference has been divided in two parts. One is the ‘creative issues‘ of television and film writers and the other is professional and legal issues faced by them.

    According to the FWA website, the first includes deliberations on the “disconnect/connect of popular entertainment with our social reality, questions of why a society in dramatic transition is not reflected in our cinema and TV, the representation and portrayal of women in our stories, whether and how these interpretations influence audiences, the new definition of heroism in cinema today and the rise of machismo, what happened to the common man‘s issues, why most TV shows seem to lose the plot, what is really driving content on TV today, does the screenwriter have a social responsibility, and such.

    The latter will address the provisions of the Minimum Basic Contract for film writers and the Minimum Basic Contract for TV writers and the Copyright Act.