ITV

Tag: TV production

  • Juggernaut Productions enters TV production business

    Juggernaut Productions enters TV production business

    Mumbai: With numerous successful OTT shows to its credit, IN10 Media Network’s production house, Juggernaut Productions, is thrilled to announce its expansion into television production. The move marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth journey, reflecting its commitment to delivering diverse and high-quality entertainment to a broader audience.

    Dipti Kalwani, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the media industry, has been appointed to lead the new television production vertical. As senior vice president – TV & AVOD, she will oversee the development and production of innovative television content, leveraging her extensive expertise as a TV producer, content creator, and writer.

    “We are thrilled to have Dipti lead our television production business,” said Juggernaut Productions CEO Samar Khan. “Her vision, creativity, and deep understanding of the television landscape will be invaluable as we embark on this new venture. We are confident that under her leadership, our television content will set new standards for quality and innovation.”

    On the new role, Kalwani said, “I am excited to join Juggernaut Productions and lead this exciting new chapter in the company’s journey. Television production offers unique opportunities and challenges, and I look forward to creating content that resonates with audiences and continues the Juggernaut legacy of excellence. Our goal is to produce shows that not only entertain but also leave a lasting impact.”

    Juggernaut Productions has a strong track record of producing high-quality content like CodeM, Shoorveer, Illegal, Rakshak – India’s Bravehearts, The Married Woman, Avrodh: The Siege Within and many more across various genres and platforms. With the expansion into television production, the company aims to leverage its expertise and creativity to deliver innovative and engaging TV shows. The new TV division will develop original content, from drama and comedy to reality and factual entertainment, that appeals to different demographics.

    This move into television production is part of Juggernaut Productions’ broader strategy to diversify its content offerings and expand its footprint in the entertainment industry. The production house is also making significant investments in creating documentaries for various platforms and is committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling and production, ensuring its content continues to captivate and entertain audiences.

  • No more TV & film shoots in Goa, govt enforces 15-day lockdown

    No more TV & film shoots in Goa, govt enforces 15-day lockdown

    New Delhi: With one of the highest rate of Covid2019 infections in the country, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday announced a state-wide curfew in the state from 9 May to 23 May.

    According to government data, Goa has recorded a positivity rate of 41 per cent, which has surpassed the infection rates in Delhi as well as Mumbai. “The positivity rate and death rate are increasing in the state. There is no shortage of oxygen and medicines in the state. A detailed order regarding the state-level curfew will be released by 4 pm on Saturday,” said Sawant.

    The announcement comes hours after the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) cancelled all permissions granted for film and television serial shootings in the state in the wake of the raging pandemic. The ESG is Goa government’s nodal agency empowered to give permission for commercial shootings in the state.

    Several film and TV serial makers from Mumbai and Chennai had recently shifted their sets to Goa after strict restrictions were imposed in Maharashtra and other states.

    “We will not allow any shooting of films or television serials in public or private properties till the Covid2019 situation in the state comes under control,” ESG vice president Subhash Faldesai told PTI.

    All those currently shooting films and serials in Goa have also been asked to wind up their schedules. The ESG said it will review its decision only after the situation is under control.

    On Thursday, Goa reported its highest daily tally so far with 3,869 Covid2019 cases that took the count of infections to 1,08,267.

  • Maharashtra shuts all TV, film shoots till 1 May

    Maharashtra shuts all TV, film shoots till 1 May

    New Delhi: With no slowdown in sight in the surge of Covid2019 cases, the Maharashtra government has decided to shut down all ongoing television and film shooting from 8 pm on Wednesday. The restrictions will remain in effect till 7 am on 1 May.

    The state is grappling with an alarming rise in the number of Covid2019 infections and has the maximum caseloads, more than any other state, amidst the second wave tearing through the country. Chief minister Udhav Thackeray said the current situation was “scary”, with hospitals across the state battling with acute shortage of beds, oxygen cylinders and lifesaving drugs.

    Thackeray stopped short of using the term ‘lockdown’, but said only essential activities and services will be permitted to operate for the next two weeks. The government has announced closure of all schools, colleges, restaurants, hotels, cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes, gyms, sports complex, amusement parks and all religious places. E-commerce will be allowed for the delivery of goods. Section 144 will be imposed across the state from 8 pm Wednesday till 7 am on 1 May.

    Television producers and broadcasters who were already reeling under the economic fallout of the pandemic will now have to face the challenge of running daily shows amid these strict restrictions. Several TV and film shoots have already been bearing the brunt of the pandemic during the last two weeks, with an increasing number of artists and staff members testing positive for Covid2019.

    Shooting of TV shows like Wagle Ki Duniya, Anupamaa and films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, Mr Lele, Ram Setu were halted after several Covid-positive cases were reported on the sets. The Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) had also been urging the producers to ensure their staff is being regularly tested for Covid2019. The government had already announced the closure of cinema halls and multiplexes last week.

    The cases and fatalities have peaked sharply in Maharashtra over the last few weeks with as many as 60,000 cases being reported daily. The state has already lost as many as 58,000 lives to the pandemic. The capital city of Mumbai has reported as many as 7,898 new positive cases on Tuesday and reported 26 deaths, taking the total number of positive cases to 5,35,017.

  • TV producers on restarting offices with safety measures

    TV producers on restarting offices with safety measures

    MUMBAI: On 8 June the Maharashtra government allowed all private offices to operate with up to 10 per cent of full staff strength or ten people (whichever is higher). Production houses are still waiting for permission from Film City and district collectors to start production in Mumbai and Thane. In the meantime, certain producers have restarted their offices, while others are waiting for things to get normal.

    Famous Studio MD Anant Roongta who resumed office on 8 June thanked his team for their constant effort. The company is currently working with less than ten people. However, it has introduced a shift system to manage the workflow. There are no more than five people per floor. The studio has five facilities and across the entire facility, 35 to 40 people are working.

    Apart from that, the office space is sanitised on a regular basis. It is mandatory to wear surgical gloves while working on any equipment to stop the mitigating virus. Social distancing is followed by providing separate rooms to each employee. As far as visual reality is concerned people are working in the extreme ends of the room. Most employees are also given separate stations to maintain the social distancing norm. For travelling, employees are using private vehicles or sharing a car with no more than two people.

    Creative Eye has also re-started its office. Its managing director Dheeraj Kumar says, “We are functioning as per the permission granted by the government. We have already started working on a project that was supposed to happen before the lockdown. We have booked the set, paid advances and realigned 15 scripts.”

    In the last few days Kumar has shifted his focus to operational issues. As a service provider Kumar highlights that the company works on a project basis. If needed, it has close to 100 people on the set. For now, the permanent staff consists of 50 employees and only those who are close by are coming to the office in their private vehicles. People who live far off are still working from home.

    The teams required in the office are the ideation and creation teams. They include CEOs, CFOs, head of departments, general managers, operational team, studio manager, executive secretary, administrative manager, housekeeping staff and kitchen staff. Apart from that, editors are permanently also living in the office.

    Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege makes it clear that it will not be starting its office any time soon. Employees will be working from home for the next six months at least and even after that work will resume in a shift system.  

    He adds, “The key change will be the number of people coming on the set and how they behave. What can be done to maintain social distancing, and other necessary guidelines.”

    On a similar note, Hats Off Productions founder J D Majethia is also not planning to restart his office. Firstly, he wants to ensure that everything is in place in terms of SOPs and safety and then he will think of restarting. Until then all the employees will continue working from home.

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  • Nikhil Mirchandani hops on board Shashi Sumeet Group as CEO

    Nikhil Mirchandani hops on board Shashi Sumeet Group as CEO

    MUMBAI: From broadcast to production. That’s the journey Nikhil Mirchandani is taking. Mirchandani has signed on as CEO of the TV, digital and ad film making production house – the Shashi Sumeet Group.

    A media specialist with more than two decades of holistic business experience, Nikhil has extensively worked across the entertainment sector catering to local and global brands. Prior to this, Nikhil has been associated with his entrepreneurial venture HOOP Entertainment, a company founded by him in 2012.

    As per the current mandate, Nikhil will be responsible for leading and overseeing the Group’s business operations and expansion plans. Currently, Shashi Sumeet Productions has the long running show Diya aur Baati Hum, and Humdard on Maan TV on air. But it has been behind successful shows such as Zee TV’s Punar Vivah, and Life Ok’s Tumhaari Paakhi.

    Nikhil Mirchandani began his career with GE Capital before making a career in the media and entertainment sector, where he has over 20 years of work experience across major networks including Sony Entertainment Television, Turner International, National Geographic Channel and Star India.

    He was managing director, south Asia, NGC Network and FOX International Channels for over five years and later joined Star as Executive Vice-President and General Manager, Star One. He then started Hoop Entertainment, an entrepreneurial venture engaged in the business of branded and digital content solutions.

    Commenting on the appointment, Shashi Sumeet group founder, director Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal , said, “I am pleased to welcome Nikhil Mirchandani to Shashi Sumeet Group family and am certain that he will come up with outstanding solutions to suit our business model. Keeping up with our brand mantra ‘Imagine, Innovate, Inspire’; I want to give my 100 per cent to my creative interest enabling a win-win situation for both myself and the organization that can benefit from increased creative bandwidth and super-amplified story-telling abilities.”

    Mirchandani agreed adding: “Shashi Sumeet Group is a brilliant brand and has done fantastic work; both business and creative. It is a matter of great pride and honour for me that I will be able to leverage my strategic skills and years of learning for a brand of this stature. I am excited to be able to lead the organization in the next stage of evolution”

  • Nikhil Mirchandani hops on board Shashi Sumeet Group as CEO

    Nikhil Mirchandani hops on board Shashi Sumeet Group as CEO

    MUMBAI: From broadcast to production. That’s the journey Nikhil Mirchandani is taking. Mirchandani has signed on as CEO of the TV, digital and ad film making production house – the Shashi Sumeet Group.

    A media specialist with more than two decades of holistic business experience, Nikhil has extensively worked across the entertainment sector catering to local and global brands. Prior to this, Nikhil has been associated with his entrepreneurial venture HOOP Entertainment, a company founded by him in 2012.

    As per the current mandate, Nikhil will be responsible for leading and overseeing the Group’s business operations and expansion plans. Currently, Shashi Sumeet Productions has the long running show Diya aur Baati Hum, and Humdard on Maan TV on air. But it has been behind successful shows such as Zee TV’s Punar Vivah, and Life Ok’s Tumhaari Paakhi.

    Nikhil Mirchandani began his career with GE Capital before making a career in the media and entertainment sector, where he has over 20 years of work experience across major networks including Sony Entertainment Television, Turner International, National Geographic Channel and Star India.

    He was managing director, south Asia, NGC Network and FOX International Channels for over five years and later joined Star as Executive Vice-President and General Manager, Star One. He then started Hoop Entertainment, an entrepreneurial venture engaged in the business of branded and digital content solutions.

    Commenting on the appointment, Shashi Sumeet group founder, director Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal , said, “I am pleased to welcome Nikhil Mirchandani to Shashi Sumeet Group family and am certain that he will come up with outstanding solutions to suit our business model. Keeping up with our brand mantra ‘Imagine, Innovate, Inspire’; I want to give my 100 per cent to my creative interest enabling a win-win situation for both myself and the organization that can benefit from increased creative bandwidth and super-amplified story-telling abilities.”

    Mirchandani agreed adding: “Shashi Sumeet Group is a brilliant brand and has done fantastic work; both business and creative. It is a matter of great pride and honour for me that I will be able to leverage my strategic skills and years of learning for a brand of this stature. I am excited to be able to lead the organization in the next stage of evolution”

  • Indus Media Entertainment to enter film and TV production in India

    Indus Media Entertainment to enter film and TV production in India

    MUMBAI: The film and television industry in the country is all set to get fresh infusion of funds from Singapore’s Indus Media and Entertainment (IME) in the form of a venture capital (VC) fund worth Rs 75 crore. IME is looking at raising capital to invest in Hollywood films, south Indian films and producing TV content, with Rs 300 crore as the target and 75 per cent (Rs 225 crore) of it being invested in Hollywood. “Hollywood has a more structured work environment. There is a completion bond as to when will the film be completed as well as the exact amount of expenditure. So it makes sense to enter Hollywood,” says IME co-founder Naveen Chathappuram. 

     

    IME founding director Devarajan Venkat is of the view that India cannot be ignored. “South Indian films, Tamil and Malayalam, are our first targets and eventually after we make some profit, we will explore the Telugu market as well. Initially we will work with small budgets before moving to larger projects,” he says. Venkat adds that unlike other film producers and private equity funds, IME is here to look at opportunities that make commercial sense rather than pick projects driven by creative compulsion.

     

    Soft commitments worth Rs 90 crore have already been obtained from investors based mainly in the Middle East. Venkat is aware that people are apprehensive of VC funds, especially because this is the first off shore fund in India. Investors are being promised returns of 18 to 20 per cent. 

     

    IME’s other focus is TV production on a global scale. “The American sitcom market is booming in India, especially amongst the teenage audience. We are looking at creating original concepts that could be adapted into every language,” adds Venkat. IME aims to be genre agnostic but it knows that drama, reality and sitcom are the types that work here informs Venkat. Again, the aim is not on creativity but on commercial viability, he further informs. His own experience of 20 years in finance with the Reliance Group and Balaji Telefilms will ensure that only financially viable projects would be undertaken.

     

    Shows that will be created will be in English but with Indian sensibilities and Indian actors. Venkat believes that just as Indians can connect with American shows with American sensibilities, shows with Indian sensibilities will be gobbled up across the world, especially by the non-resident Indians as well as by Indians themselves. One such show Brown Nation is already under production.

     

    “The objective is dual- to reach out to Indians across the world and also target the niche in India. We don’t want an India exclusive product,” he adds. The show costs are in the rage of approximately Rs 60 lakh per episode or USD 1 lakh. The fact that IME is a global fund will ensure that revenues come from across the globe as only Indian revenues may not be able to sustain the costs.

     

    The fund is expected to launch by September 2014 with nearly 20 investors from across the globe and fund deployment will begin by this year end. Venkat believes that TV is not a business where one could incur loss since IME is looking at creating shows and then selling them. But IME’s focus is higher on films because of the glamour factor.

     

    IME’s offices are currently located in Singapore, Chicago and Chennai with an extension being made to Mumbai shortly. The fund will be based out of Mauritius. On the board of directors are Venkat, Chathappuram, Charles Leslie, Ramu Veerappan, T Jeyananth and PAR Subramaniam.

     

    Projects currently being worked upon are Night of the Living Dead which will see actor R Madhavan enter Hollywood and a Malayali movie featuring Fahad Fazil.

     

    Other existing domestic VC funds are Third Eye Cinema Fund and soon to launch Bend It Media Fund.

  • RBNL’s radio business continues profitable run in Q1-2014

    RBNL’s radio business continues profitable run in Q1-2014

    BENGALURU: Note: The profit/loss figures mentioned collectively or for each segment in this report are profits before tax and interest (PBIT), unless stated otherwise.

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) radio business which first returned a profit in Q3-2013 of Rs 3.36 crore, followed by a profit of Rs 8.06 crore in Q4-2013 continued its profitable run with positive figures of Rs 8.71 crore for Q1-2014.

     

    On a consolidated basis, RBNL reported a loss of Rs 15.76 crore for Q1-2014, about 55 per cent of the loss of Rs 28.705 crore loss during Q1-2013 and about 65.25 per cent of the Rs 24.154 crore loss reported for Q4-2013. RBNL reported a loss of Rs 91.73 crore for FY-2013.

     

    RBNL CFO Asheesh Chatterjee informed www.indiantelevision.com, “RBNL achieved cash break-even at consolidated level and remains PAT positive at standalone basis in Q1-2014.

    Radio business reported 31 per cent y-o-y growth in revenue and EBITDA of Rs 17.4 crore. TV business sustained leadership reporting 37 per cent y-o-y revenue growth.”

     

    Overall

     

    Q1-2014 consolidated total income of Rs 61.1 crore; increase of 26 per cent y-o-y
    Q1-2014 consolidated EBITDA at Rs 0.9 crore – achieves break even.
    Q1-2014 consolidated EBIT was Rs (9.8 crore)
    Q1-2014 standalone total income of Rs 58.5 crore; increase of 18 per cent y-o-y
    Q1-2014 standalone EBITDA at Rs 19 crore; increase of 382 per cent y-o-y.
    Q1-2014 standalone EBIT at Rs 8.8 crore; increase of 264 per cent y-o-y
    Q1-2014 standalone PAT at Rs 2.1 crore; increase of 112 per cent y-o-y.

     

    Let us look at RBNL’s figures from various segments in Q1-2014

     

    Radio

     

    Revenue from radio contributed a major chunk – Rs 47.27 crore or about 73.26 per cent of RBNL’s total revenue of Rs 64.53 crore and 76 per cent of Income from operations at Rs 62.19 crore during Q4-2014.

     

    Revenue from radio in Q1-2014 at Rs 47.27 crore grew 31.3 per cent as compared to the Rs 36.01 crore for Q1-2013 and grew 2.6 per cent as compared to the revenue of Rs 46.09 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    Q1-2014 radio standalone EBITDA at Rs 17.4 crore as against EBITDA of Rs 7.8 crore in Q1-2013; increase of 122 per cent y-o-y

     

    Q1-2014 radio standalone EBIT at Rs 8.7 crore as against EBIT of Rs (-1.0) crore in Q1-2013.

     

    TV Production

     

    TV Production, with a standalone revenue of Rs 5.90 crore, contributed 9.5 per cent to Income from operations during Q4-2014. Revenue from production in Q1-2014 grew by 11.8 per cent as compared to the revenue of Rs 5.28 crore in Q1-2013 and 29.24 per cent as compared to the revenue of Rs 4.57 crore in Q4-2013. Production suffered a loss in Q4-2014 of Rs 0.423 crore as compared to a profit of Rs 0.1059 crore in Q1-2013, but 16.11 per cent lower than the loss of Rs 0.504 crore reported for Q4-2013.

     

    Standalone EBDITA for Q1-2014 from this segment was Rs (-0.3) crore in Q1-2014 as compared to the EBDITA of Rs0.2 crore in Q1-2013 and Rs (-0.3) crore in Q4-2014.

     

    OOH

     

    Revenue from outdoor at Rs 1.995 crore in Q1-2014 was almost one third (34.5 per cent) of the revenue of Rs 5.99 crore in Q1-2013 and just 30.6 per cent of the Rs 6.303 crore in Q4-2013. Loss from this revenue segment in Q1-2014 was significantly lower (by 12.4 times) at Rs 0.1758 crore as compared to the loss of Rs 2.182 crore in Q1-2013. Outdoor returned a profit of Rs 0.1407 crore for Q4-2013.

    Standalone EBITDA from this segment was a positive Rs 1.2 crore during Q1-2014 as compared to a loss of Rs 1.8 crore in Q1-2013 and Rs 0.7 crore during Q4-2013
    Televison.

     

    Consolidated revenue of Rs 8.44 crore from television contributed 13.6 per cent of total revenue for Q1-2014. Revenue from this segment grew at 36.9 per ecent as compared to the Rs 6.16 crore reported for Q1-2013 and just half a per cent as compared to the Rs 8.39 crore for Q4-2013. Consolidated loss from television in Q1-2014 at Rs 18.06 crore was 54.4 per cent higher than the loss of 11.69 crore for Q1-2013, but was significantly lower by 32 per cent as compared to the Rs 26.54 crore loss for Q4-2013.

     

    RBNL CEO Tarun Katial said, “Reliance Broadcast Network has delivered a robust performance, breaking even at the operating level. Radio has delivered the highest ever Q1 performance, fortifying its position as the leading national network and both key businesses of radio and television are primed to benefit from government reforms.”

     

    RBNL says that its flagship general entertainment channel Big Magic which emerged a leader in the Hindi heartland, has steadily expanded distribution across the Hindi speaking markets of India, benefiting from phase II of television digitisation. Its ays that TRAI’s mandate to regulate advertisement inventory to 10 minutes per clock hour will translate into more equitable distribution of advertisement inventory across channels, resulting in increased advertisement flow to both radio and emerging channels like Big Magic, Big CBS and Big RTL Thrill.

  • Reliance MediaWorks yet to conclude PE deal; in talks to extend exclusivity period

    Reliance MediaWorks yet to conclude PE deal; in talks to extend exclusivity period

    MUMBAI: For cash-strapped Reliance MediaWorks (RMW), a big relief was the promise of private equity financing. But the Anil Ambani-controlled film and entertainment services company said Monday it is yet to conclude the Rs 6.05 billion equity investment deal it had signed with a private equity firm last year.

    The company clarified that “no definitive agreement has been executed in respect of the proposed transaction.” RMW has not yet named the private equity firm.

    RMW said it is in talks with the private equity firm to extend the exclusivity term-sheet period for Rs 6.05 billion investment for a minority stake in the company. The window expired on 15 October 2012.

    The company and the fund are in the process of extending the exclusivity period, RMW clarified.

    The company had last year announced that it had signed a term-sheet with an unnamed PE fund to get an investment of Rs 6.05 billion for the debt-ridden company, whose entire net worth got eroded due to consecutive losses.

    The investment was to be made in a subsidiary company of RMW under which the media services division would be housed.

    While Reliance has declined to divulge the name of the PE firm, a report in a business daily had speculated that the company was in talks with L Capital, the private equity arm of the world‘s biggest luxury company LVMH.

    Meanwhile, the company which had extended its financial year till 30 September 2012, has narrowed its net loss to Rs 1.16 billion in the quarter ended 31 December, from Rs 1.5 billion a year earlier.

    RMW’s income from operations for the third quarter remained flat at Rs 2.02 billion against Rs 2.07 billion a year ago. The company also contained its expenses in the third quarter at Rs 2.6 billion against Rs 2.89 billion a year earlier.

    RMW operates three businesses — film distribution under BIG Cinemas, TV production unit under Big Synergy, and a film and media services segment.

    The company‘s loss from film services division before tax and interest widened to Rs 386.3 million in the third quarter from Rs 85.23 million a year earlier, while the revenue from this segment declined to Rs 322.1 million from Rs 534.3 million a year earlier.

    Its loss from theatrical exhibition declined to Rs 220.9 million from Rs 510.3 million a year earlier. However, its revenue remained flat at Rs 1.42 billion against Rs 1.47 billion a year earlier.

    The television/film production and distribution business, the only profitable segment for the company, posted a profit of Rs 98.88 million in the third quarter, up from Rs 17.39 million a year ago. The division’s revenue grew to Rs 334.4 million in the third quarter from Rs 128.8 million in the earlier year.

  • Ormax launches research product for TV production houses

    Ormax launches research product for TV production houses

    MUMBAI: Ormax Media, the media research and consulting firm, has launched a new research product – Television Omnibus for TV production houses.

    The consulting firm said that the product will address the consumer research needs of production houses in a cost effective manner.

    “Today, many production houses are research savvy. They have the ability to appreciate consumer feedback on their programmes, as well as act upon it. However, unlike broadcasters, production houses may not be able to afford on-going, large-scale consumer research for all their properties. Television Omnibus is a product that will address their needs in a timely and cost effective manner,” said ormax Media CEO Shailesh Kapoor.

    Research under Television Omnibus will be conducted across the country using focus group discussions and depth interviews. The company said that while several production houses will subscribe to the product, each will have access to the findings of only their programmes.

    Additionally, production houses can also use Television Omnibus to test new programme concepts, as well as understand consumer trends such as weekend programming, mythological shows, youth channels and emerging trends.

    Kapoor adds, “Television Omnibus will help production houses pre-empt any drop in ratings of their programs, by being in constant touch with their consumers. Three production houses have already signed up with us, and we expect another 3-4 to be on-board in the next two months.”