ITV

Tag: TV Today Network

  • Aaj Tak taps into rural audience with new show

    Aaj Tak taps into rural audience with new show

    MUMBAI: National Hindi news channel Aaj Tak is looking at tapping into rural audiences with its new show titled – Aaj Tak Ka Gaon Connection.

     

    The special series is tailor-made for the rural audience connecting India and Bharat like never before.

     

    Rural India is a large, underserved market amounting to around 70 per cent of India’s total population (Census 2011) and contributing to about half of the India’s GDP. The villages in India play a crucial role in not just making or breaking governments but also play a defining role in the economy and growth of the nation as a whole. The rural audience is going through a metamorphosis and is changing at a sociological and cultural level. Understanding the need to give apt coverage to this very important and wide section of India, the channel launched the new show. 

     

    With Aaj Tak Ka Gaon Connection, the channel plans to provide a full spectrum of rural news – from hard subjects to inspirational stories, problems, issues and a perspective that is fresh and uniquely rural.

     

    The show will be hosted by senior journalist, lyricist and scriptwriter Neelesh Misra, who is also the founder and editorial director of India’s first ever rural newspaper Gaon Connection.

    India Today group CEO Ashish Bagga said, “The launch of Aaj Tak Ka Gaon Connection is just another step that underlines our channel’s thought leadership and the consistent effort to break new ground. The series will fill a long standing void that this vast audience base has been feeling.”

     

    The series will not  only keep rural India updated on issues that matter but will also give a glimpse of their world to the viewers across towns and cities.

  • Radio Mirchi gets I&B nod to purchase Oye FM

    Radio Mirchi gets I&B nod to purchase Oye FM

    MUMBAI: Radio Mirchi FM’s mother company Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL) has received the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry’s nod to purchase TV Today Network’s (TVTN) four radio stations, which owns 104.8 FM Oye.

     

    This includes the company’s radio business in Amritsar, Jodhpur, Patiala and Shimla.

     

    The purchase will be subject to fulfilment of conditions specified by I&B Ministry, execution of relevant documents with TVTN and completion of all other relevant formalities.

     

    It can be noted that ENIL had signed the non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TV Today Network for the purchase of seven radio stations. However, on 13 February, 2015 and 8 May, 2015, I&B Ministry declined its approval on the grounds that the proposed sale by TVTN and proposed purchase by ENIL is not in conformity with the FM Radio Guidelines.

     

    With this approval, the shares of ENIL saw a hike of close to 17 per cent in intraday trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to touch a life high of Rs 849 on 22 July.

  • TV Today board raises foreign investment limit to 26%

    TV Today board raises foreign investment limit to 26%

    MUMBAI: The board of TV Today Network has approved the increase in foreign investment limit by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) up to 26 per cent and by non-resident Indian (NRI) up to 24 per cent of the paid-up capital of the company.

     

    However, this will be subject to the maximum permissible limit of 26 per cent of the paid-up capital of the company, under the Portfolio Investment Scheme pursuant to FEMA (Transfer or issue of Security by a person resident outside India) Regulations, 2000 (‘FEMA Regulations’) and approval of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

     

    Additionally, the FIBP approval should be in accordance with the revised uplinking guidelines for news and current affairs channel by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India and other applicable laws.

     

    The network informed the same to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), saying that the infusion of foreign investment would be subject to the shareholders’ approval.

  • FY-2015: TV Today reports 22.4% income growth, PAT up 32.2%

    FY-2015: TV Today reports 22.4% income growth, PAT up 32.2%

    BENGALURU: TV Today Network Limited (TVTN) reported 22.4 per cent growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 476.58 crore as compared to the TIO of Rs 389.44 crore in the previous year. Profit after tax (PAT) for the current year grew 32.2 per cent to Rs 81.03 crore from Rs 61.32 crore in FY-2014. TIO for Q4-2015 at Rs 114.15 crore was 17.2 per cent more than the Rs 97.41 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter but 9.9 per cent lower than the Rs 126.68 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    TVTN PAT for Q4-2015 at Rs 8.69 crore declined 45.2 per cent as compared to the Rs 15.85 crore in Q4-2014 and was 67 per cent less than the Rs 13.21 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers posted by TVTN:

     

    TVTN reported other income of Rs 22.69 crore in FY-201; Rs 11.70 crore in FY-2014; Rs 10.97 crore in Q4-2015; Rs 5.01 crore in Q4-2014 and Rs 4.24 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    The company’s total expenses (TE) for FY-2015 increased 23.2 per cent to Rs 374.90 crore from Rs 304.35 crores in the previous year. TE in Q4-2015 at Rs 112.70 crore was 45.8 per cent more than the Rs 77.31 crore in Q4-2014 and 24.6 per cent more than the Rs 90.48 crore in the preceding quarter.

     

    Production cost in FY-2015 at Rs 54.46 crore was 32.5 per cent more than the Rs 41.09 crore in FY-2014. Q4-2015 production cost increased 37.7 per cent in Q4-2015 to Rs 17.94 crore as compared to the Rs 13.03 crore in Q4-2014 and was 50 per cent more than the Rs 11.96 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    The company’s advertisement, distribution and sales promotion expense (ad expense) in FY-2015 at Rs 101.75 crore was 18.7 per cent more than the Rs 85.74 crore in FY-2014. Ad expense for Q42015 was 80.3 per cent more at Rs 32.68 crore as compared to the Rs 18.12 crore in Q4-2014 and was 30.4 per cent more than the Rs 25.06 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Segment Results:

     

    TV Broadcasting

     

    TVTN’s TV Broadcasting segment reported 23.3 per cent operating revenue growth in FY-2015 to Rs 461.08 crore as compared to the Rs 374.06 crore in FY-2014. The segment’s operating revenue in Q4-2015 improved 22.5 per cent to Rs 114.54 crore as compared to the Rs 93.5 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter, but declined 9.6 per cent as compared to the Rs 126.68 crore in Q3-2105.

     

    The segment reported 22.1 per cent growth in operating profit to Rs 126.71 crore in FY-2015 as compared to the Rs 103.75 crore in FY-2015. In Q4-2015, operating profit declined 45.9 per cent to Rs 14.90 crore as compared to the Rs 27.55 crore in Q40-2014 and fell to less than the half (38 per cent) of the Rs 39.22 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    FM Radio Broadcasting

     

    TVTN’s FM Radio Broadcasting segment reported 0.6 per cent growth in operating revenue to Rs 15.48 crore in FY-2015 as compared to the Rs 15.38 crore in FY-2014. Operating revenue for the segment declined 0.3 per cent in Q4-2015 to Rs 3.90 crore as compared to the Rs 3.91 crore in Q4-2015 and declined fourper cent as compared to the Rs 4 crore reported in Q3-2015.

  • TV Today Network approaches High Court for speedy decision on Oye FM

    TV Today Network approaches High Court for speedy decision on Oye FM

    MUMBAI: TV Today Network Ltd informed the BSE that it has approached the High Court with regards to the delay by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (MIB) approval to sell the company’s FM radio business-Oye FM (seven radio stations) to Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL).

     

    According to the note published on BSE, TV Today Network Ltd stated that the Board noted “that in relation to the proposed sale of seven radio stations to Entertainment Network (India) Limited, since time is of essence and with approval of the MIB getting delayed, hence in order to expedite the matter, an urgent writ petition in the High Court is listed for hearing, to seek necessary relief.”

     

    TV Today CEO Ashish Bagga, refused to comment on this decision taken by the company.

     

    The application was filed by the company to MIB on 16 February, 2015.

     

    Click here to read full report

  • TV Today’s Oye FM up for sale amidst disappointing revenues

    TV Today’s Oye FM up for sale amidst disappointing revenues

    BENGALURU/MUMBAI: Entities in the radio business have started to play their cards for survival in the industry. The first one to make the move was Radio City when it entered in an acquisition agreement with Jagran Prakashan. Now, TV Today’s Oye FM is in spotlight.

     

    According to an announcement on the BSE, the Board has approved the sale of the radio FM business, which has seven radio stations operating in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Patiala and Shimla.

     

    The corporate announcement stated, “TV Today Network Ltd has informed BSE that the board of directors of the company at its meeting held on 6 February 2015, inter alia, had allotted ESOP as per TVTN Employee stock option plan 2006: Satyaky Chowdhury – 10,500; and Shams Tahir Khan – 7,500.”

     

    It further said, “The Board has approved the sale of Radio FM Business (Seven Radio Stations) and has further authorised a Committee of Directors / senior officials to negotiate the terms and conditions with potential buyers and to execute the sale, subject to requisite Statutory and Regulatory approvals.”

     

    No official information has been circulated amongst Oye FM employees giving details of such a sale. But one of the sources said that Oye FM was pretty much evaluating its position in Phase III auctions along with Oye FM’s migration plans. But with the new announcement there is no clarity as to where they stand for Phase III auctions. Currently, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is working on making the partial auctions happen as smoothly as possible. The first partial auction of FM radio phase III is for 69 existing cities for 135 channels.

     

    This sale will not be the first for TV Today Network Limited (TVTN). In 2006, TVTN promoter, Living Media, sold the FM radio business under the brand Red FM to a consortium of investors, and later Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Network bought a stake in the company.

     

    Click here to read the full story

  • Television and online medium need different approach for revenue making

    Television and online medium need different approach for revenue making

    NOIDA: The news television space is burdened with cash crunch. And addressing this core issue were the news industry giants at the 7th News Television Summit organised by indiantelevision.com. The Summit which began with a session on ‘Content monetisation through conventional and digital platforms of news channel’ was moderated by Provocateur Advisory principal Paritosh Joshi and attended by NDTV Group CEO Vikram Chandra, TV Today Network CEO Ashish Bagga, IBN18 Network CEO Avinash Kaul, Doordarshan ADG news Mayank Agarwal and Focus News Network group CEO Neeraj Sanan.

     

    Joshi began the session by asking Chandra how viewership data has changed since NDTV raised its voice against the alleged faulty ratings three years ago. Chandra said that they weren’t getting correct ratings and when they talked about it to others they were told to either swim with the tide or do something different which would get the TRPs. Soon after, they were joined by other broadcasters as well.

     

    Joshi then asked Bagga the secret behind Aaj Tak’s dominance in the genre for the last 10 years. Bagga highlighted that it was not easy to sustain its position given the tough environment. “There was reluctance from various quarters so it was necessary to push that credibility,” he said. He added that the network had grown 25 per cent since last year and while others were growing at just two to five per cent.

     

    Talking about the ad rates, Bagga said that the price for a slot on news channels, unlike the GECs is pitiable. However, TV Today has put its business on a sustainable model of 20 per cent y-o-y growth. “This has been done by quality, resource, building perception and getting the required numbers,” he said.

     

    Doordarshan, on being asked about its transformation, said that it had done a good revamp to maintain norms and standards. “People may feel that we put out the news stories a little later than the others, but that’s not the case. We are alert,” said Agrawal.

     

    He however agreed that a lot is still left to be done apart from the new programmes and the new look it has given to its anchors. “We have also set up new teams in order to cover news better and are also focusing on our online medium,” informed Agrawal.  

     

    Joshi also highlighted the fact that there is little differentiation in content between the news channels. Disagreeing with the observation, Kaul said that though it could be true, the approach of each channel for a story is different. “You can cater the news to different age groups and segment it differently,” he opined.

     

    Kaul is optimistic about the new rating system that will be brought out by BARC India. “This will bring in change to the type of content being produced,” he said.

     

    Joshi also brought out the common criticism that the news industry has to deal with. “Various quarters have said that while the news broadcasters crib about the bad business, the genre still sees new players getting into it every now and then. Is it the political money that is going into it?” questioned Joshi.

     

     Sanan at this point said that the reason for this was the fact that people see a lot of potential in news because of its ever growing consumption. “If all news channels give same content then that means there is a need for someone to come and stand out. If people are willing to pay and if you can package your content well then there is no reason why one cannot get into it,” he said.

     

    While digital is a growing platform, Joshi asked whether the algorithm that it follows is trustworthy with regards to journalism. Chandra highlighted the fact that even today the brand of an anchor is important. “When people come to the online medium, they want to come to trustworthy sources rather than a layman giving information,” he opined.

     

    Kaul said that with BARC India bringing in meters in the rural areas, the genre will have to strengthen its coverage in those areas as well. “With 4G and broadband making in-roads, we will be in a better state,” he said.

     

    Chandra stated that it was not right to replicate the TV business model for online and that digital was growing at a CAGR of 40 per cent.

  • TV Today Network receives shareholders nod for 20 per cent dividend for FY-2014

    TV Today Network receives shareholders nod for 20 per cent dividend for FY-2014

    BENGALURU:  At the 20 August 2014 AGM, TV Today Network Limited (TVTN) shareholders gave their nod to the 20 per cent dividend mooted by the board of directors on 14 May 2014 for the financial year ended 31 March 2014 (FY-2014). Of the 10 resolutions,  resolution no 2  ‘Declaration of dividend’ (Rs 1 per equity share of face value of Rs 5) was passed with a 100 per cent margin through the e-voting process and 99.99 per cent margin through the polling process at the AGM, says the report by independent scrutinizer Juris Prudent Consulting Partners (JPCP) founder and principal consultant and advocate Ajay Kumar Jain.

     

    The JPCP report says that 10,08,291 votes were cast through the e-voting process, all were in favour of the resolution for dividend. 137 members directly or through their proxies cast 3,39,55,288 votes of which 114 votes of 5 members (or proxies) were invalid. The votes were in favour of the resolution for dividend at polling done at the AGM on 20 August 2014.

     

    For the last 10 years, since 2004, TVTN has been declaring a final dividend of 15 per cent, in its eleventh year (FY-2104) the company has upped it to 20 per cent. As mentioned earlier, TVTN, a part of the India Today group, had reported 5.02 times growth in standalone PAT in FY-2014 to Rs 61.32 crore (15.75 per cent of Income from Operations or Op Inc) as compared to the Rs 12.21 crore (3.9 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013.

     

    Click here to read details of the outcome of the AGM

  • Headlines Today redefines Election reporting with Election Express

    Headlines Today redefines Election reporting with Election Express

    MUMBAI: Headlines Today takes News reporting to the next level by launching a mobile studio in the form of a state of the art Bus designed by none other than acclaimed automobile designer Dilip Chhabria himself. This one of a kind Bus boasts of a complete Newsroom Studio with a multi camera setup and a dedicated production control room. The bus stands apart not just for the futuristic look but also for being a complete mobile studio with facility to do live shows while ensuring amenities like an on board shower and toilet.

     

    The Election Express Bus is a result of the TV Today Network’s thought leadership to be always ahead of the times with ground breaking initiatives to bring News to the viewer. In the run up to the Elections, the custom built Election Express Bus will travel across the key battleground states for over 45 days to bring local issues of national significance to the forefront by news coverage and Interviews from ground zero. This initiative is a product of the idea to take Election Coverage out of the studios and into the heartland that will decide the fate of the upcoming elections. In addition to key Interviews with Leaders and Ministers during the journey across cities, the Election Express will give a glimpse into the mood of the nation with interactions with people across markets, restaurants etc along the way. This marvel on wheels will redefine how News Reporting is done by giving an in-depth perspective to viewers on Election.

     

  • ‘Election Ooh La La’ on Aaj Tak with Shekhar Suman

    ‘Election Ooh La La’ on Aaj Tak with Shekhar Suman

    MUMBAI: The prime time on one of India’s leading Hindi news channels is set to witness an outburst of giggles starting from April Fool’s day. Aaj Tak brings comic actor Shekhar Suman on its new election show Election Ooh La La from today at 9:30 pm.

     

    The 30 episode series will be aired from Monday to Saturday and will be a humorous take on elections. With quite a few episodes already in the bag, the final ones will be shot closer to the telecast date of those episodes, to ensure topicality of issues.

     

    The show has been outsourced to a production house and a multi camera set up is being used that will have Suman sketching many politicians, party symbols, presenting a unique take on mudslinging as well as connect the day’s big political story with the reality of India. This apart, he will also hold celebrity interviews.

     

    Aaj Tak managing editor Supriya Prasad said, “It is important to keep innovating and what better time to bring political satire than an action packed elections. The space has been vacant and we believe Shekhar Suman will bring an all new energy in the prime time with this show. “

     

    On air promotions for the show have already begun on the TV Today network channels. Apart from this, the channel is also going big on print, online and outdoor campaigns. To promote the new show.