Tag: TV18

TV18 Q1 2016-17: New investments lead to losses

MUMBAI: When you invest in new launches, relaunches, on talent and digital products without additional cash being pumped in, it obviously is going to hurt your bottom-line.

That’s exactly what’s happened to TV18 Broadcast, which has reported a consolidated segment revenue (including proportionate share of joint ventures considered for segment reports) of Rs 606.7 crore in Q1 to June 2016 as compared to Rs 596.7 core in the year ago period. But it has turned out a loss of Rs 14.1 crore as against a profit of Rs 8.6 crore in the same period last year.

Rebranding and relaunching of CNN-IBN as CNN-News18 cost the company Rs 3.5 crore. Three new news channels – News18 Kerala, News18 Tamil, News18 Assam/NE were flagged off in April 2016 and contributed Rs 13.9 crore to its operating losses. Rishtey CinePlex and over the top service Voot, which were launched in May 2016, and HD channels in Marathi, Kannada and Bangla that made a debut under Viacom18 in the quarter helped add to the aggregate operating losses to the tune of Rs 29.2 crore. Finally, factual entertainment channel FYI from the AETN18 stable launched 10 days ago reported a loss of Rs 5.4 crore which has been included in the April-June quarter.

The company says that the segment loss before tax and before interest including performance of the joint ventures stands at Rs 19.1 crore. If one were to exclude the impact of these new initiatives , the segment profit for the business is at Rs 32.9 crore.

TV18 has also moved to the Indian accounting standards (Ind-AS) from 1 April 2016 and it has restated its comparative results. Under this, its joint ventures Viacom18, Indiacast, and IBN Lokmat have been accounted under the equity method, the company says.

Additionally, the company had included the financials of Prism TV Private Ltd as a subsidiary in the previous corresponding quarter but which have now been reported as a joint venture from August 2015 when it ceased to be an offshoot.

Under Ind-AS (accounting for JVs under equity method), TV18’s consolidated revenue stands at Rs 210.7 crore in Q1 2016-2017 as against Rs 273.1 crore in the previous corresponding quarter.

The company states that if one were to consider the operations of TV18 on a like for like basis, after factoring the change in status of Prism TV from a subsidiary to a joint venture, the growth in revenue is 18 per cent even as the operating loss is down to Rs 19 crore from Rs 22.2 crore in Q1 June 2015.

TV18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai states in the earnings release that it is bullish about the media business – both linear and digital – and is investing heavily in it to position it for leadership. “…to be ahead of the curve…The results of these investments are starting to bear fruit and will help in healthy revenue growth and profits in the near future,” he says.

The stock market seems to have taken the financial results and statements with a pinch of salt during trading hours. The TV18 stock shed some 13.5 per cent and closed at Rs 40.70 when trading ended.

July 13, 2016
S.N. Sharma quits Reliance

MUMBAI: Cable distribution veteran SN Sharma has quit Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani promoted Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).

Sources in RIL confirmed that Sharma has put in his papers last week.

Sharma had joined RIL’s media-cum-telecom venture Reliance Jio in 2015 and was brought on board to lead the cable distribution business of the organisation.

RIL, which through a subsidiary company has a licence to operate as an MSO, had also brought in former Hathway Datacom chief executive K. Jayaraman to head its distribution business and Sharma reported into him.

As part of Reliance Jio, Sharma and Jayaraman were entrusted to build a business plan for distribution of TV channels owned by Reliance that were managed under Network18 Media and Investments Ltd.

With an experience of more than 20 years in electronic media and cable distribution, Sharma is credited with playing a crucial role in building thw Sameer Manchanda-promoted Den Networks and Rahejas-owned Hathway.

RIL, which owns and controls the Network18 group that operates a clutch of TV channels, has widespread interest in media, telecom, petroleum and energy sectors.

Through its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Limited, the group operates news channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC Bajar, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-News18, IBN7, ETV channels, IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group), apart from the newly-launched FYI TV18.

TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels like Colors, Colors HD, Colors Infinity, Rishtey, MTV India, MTV Indies, Comedy Central, Vh1, Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr, Teen Nick and Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

July 5, 2016
S.N. Sharma quits Reliance

MUMBAI: Cable distribution veteran SN Sharma has quit Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani promoted Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).

Sources in RIL confirmed that Sharma has put in his papers last week.

Sharma had joined RIL’s media-cum-telecom venture Reliance Jio in 2015 and was brought on board to lead the cable distribution business of the organisation.

RIL, which through a subsidiary company has a licence to operate as an MSO, had also brought in former Hathway Datacom chief executive K. Jayaraman to head its distribution business and Sharma reported into him.

As part of Reliance Jio, Sharma and Jayaraman were entrusted to build a business plan for distribution of TV channels owned by Reliance that were managed under Network18 Media and Investments Ltd.

With an experience of more than 20 years in electronic media and cable distribution, Sharma is credited with playing a crucial role in building thw Sameer Manchanda-promoted Den Networks and Rahejas-owned Hathway.

RIL, which owns and controls the Network18 group that operates a clutch of TV channels, has widespread interest in media, telecom, petroleum and energy sectors.

Through its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Limited, the group operates news channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC Bajar, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-News18, IBN7, ETV channels, IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group), apart from the newly-launched FYI TV18.

TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels like Colors, Colors HD, Colors Infinity, Rishtey, MTV India, MTV Indies, Comedy Central, Vh1, Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr, Teen Nick and Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

July 5, 2016
A+E Networks and TV18 launches FYI TV18

MUMBAI: A+E Networks and TV18 has begin soft run of factual and lifestyle channel- FYI TV18 on July 4. The channel will be fully launched in couple of days on all major DTH and analog cable platforms. Whether FYI TV18 will be categorised under factual entertainment or as a lifestyle channel is not yet clear.

FYI TV18 will have management hierarchy same as History TV18, headed by
A+E Networks|TV18 vice president and head of marketing Sangeeth Aiyer. A+E Networks|TV18 and President Strategy, Product & Alliances – Network 18 , MD Avinash Kaul will launch the channel this week.The channel will be live on all major DTH platforms. Tata Sky, Dish Tv, Airtel Digital, Videocon D2h are some. It will also be launched as HD channel. The tagline of the channel is life se milofy

The channel will be launched in all the major markets in languages like Hindi, English, Tamil, Telegu to name a few. Initially, the channel will have 100 hours of Hindi programming, with one of the prime shows hosted by fiction writer Chetan Bhagat. Another show will be Chef Vickey Ratnani’s Rivals in Law featuring actor Rohit Roy with his wife and mother.

There will be three locally produced shows in the beginning. The channel has launched the trailer on their facebook page today.

FYI also airs in Australia and Southeast Asia.

July 4, 2016
A+E Networks and TV18 launches FYI TV18

MUMBAI: A+E Networks and TV18 has begin soft run of factual and lifestyle channel- FYI TV18 on July 4. The channel will be fully launched in couple of days on all major DTH and analog cable platforms. Whether FYI TV18 will be categorised under factual entertainment or as a lifestyle channel is not yet clear.

FYI TV18 will have management hierarchy same as History TV18, headed by
A+E Networks|TV18 vice president and head of marketing Sangeeth Aiyer. A+E Networks|TV18 and President Strategy, Product & Alliances – Network 18 , MD Avinash Kaul will launch the channel this week.The channel will be live on all major DTH platforms. Tata Sky, Dish Tv, Airtel Digital, Videocon D2h are some. It will also be launched as HD channel. The tagline of the channel is life se milofy

The channel will be launched in all the major markets in languages like Hindi, English, Tamil, Telegu to name a few. Initially, the channel will have 100 hours of Hindi programming, with one of the prime shows hosted by fiction writer Chetan Bhagat. Another show will be Chef Vickey Ratnani’s Rivals in Law featuring actor Rohit Roy with his wife and mother.

There will be three locally produced shows in the beginning. The channel has launched the trailer on their facebook page today.

FYI also airs in Australia and Southeast Asia.

July 4, 2016
History TV18 bets high on viral marketing

MUMBAI: Digitization and online media are at the peak in today’s times. The industry is materializing the perks of digital and social media to the fullest. Digital media gives the privilege of direct responses from targeted consumers to the channels, which tempts brands, channels and industries to interact with their TG through these media.

Facebook, Twitter and other social media handles have become a prominent bridge to reach out to masses. No mention is truly needed about how rapidly industry practices are being digitized. From show promotions to pushing trailers, everything is measured through Facebook views and likes as another measure to calculate reach of the content.

Infotainment major History TV 18 claims to have leveraged the social media world. History TV 18 claims to have reached 25 million (2.5 millon) views in 25 days of its show OMG Yeh Mera India video on Facebook. Infotainment being a niche genre, has a narrow audience, therefore the channel believes this to be a landmark on the way to increasing its audience width.

Sharing data with indiantelevision.com, the channel says that its average daily reach has increased by 165.32 percent from April 2015 to March 2016 with a difference of 310,470 visits. History TV 18 states that it adopted a simple strategy by going local on the content and customizing short format videos from full length episodes of shows.

Hosted by Krushna Abhishek, OMG Yeh Mera India is a show about covering the length and breadth of India while showing incredible facts about its people and places.

The channel also speaks about its four point check on any video it creates, which increases the probability of audience engagement. The four point check is: Will it inspire our audience? Is it aspirational for our audience? Does this instil a sense of pride in the audience? Are there any strong feel good factors in this?

Social media is getting preference over other mediums of content reach due to its engagement with audiences. A+E Networks | TV18 JV vice president and head marketing Sangeetha Aiyer, while speaking with indiantelevision.com. shares, “Content has one purpose – to reach out to the maximum people. Video has one purpose – to be viewed by maximum people. So our video content is judged on the basis of views, shares and reach.”

The key to reach viewers through any medium is content, History TV 18 says that it is not the quantity of content but quality of content that matters. Infotainment channels need not flood timelines with content, rather, they must provide the audience with fresh and engaging content. Also, it is important for channels to understand their target audience. Most channels claims to have young males as their primary audience, and that they are catering to a segment that is seeking aspiration and inspiration.

According to Aiyer, the other content except for regular stuff that people tend to like on social media platforms are stories related to rural India and national development. Success stories and inspirational stories are also well appreciated. The channel is planning to improve the format of its video content, which means going beyond television and essentially becoming an independent factual entertainment platform on its own.

The enthusiasm of a big player in the genre shows that infotainment soon will be levering the benefits of social media engagements and more activity from this sector from other players is likely to happen.

May 20, 2016
History TV18 bets high on viral marketing

MUMBAI: Digitization and online media are at the peak in today’s times. The industry is materializing the perks of digital and social media to the fullest. Digital media gives the privilege of direct responses from targeted consumers to the channels, which tempts brands, channels and industries to interact with their TG through these media.

Facebook, Twitter and other social media handles have become a prominent bridge to reach out to masses. No mention is truly needed about how rapidly industry practices are being digitized. From show promotions to pushing trailers, everything is measured through Facebook views and likes as another measure to calculate reach of the content.

Infotainment major History TV 18 claims to have leveraged the social media world. History TV 18 claims to have reached 25 million (2.5 millon) views in 25 days of its show OMG Yeh Mera India video on Facebook. Infotainment being a niche genre, has a narrow audience, therefore the channel believes this to be a landmark on the way to increasing its audience width.

Sharing data with indiantelevision.com, the channel says that its average daily reach has increased by 165.32 percent from April 2015 to March 2016 with a difference of 310,470 visits. History TV 18 states that it adopted a simple strategy by going local on the content and customizing short format videos from full length episodes of shows.

Hosted by Krushna Abhishek, OMG Yeh Mera India is a show about covering the length and breadth of India while showing incredible facts about its people and places.

The channel also speaks about its four point check on any video it creates, which increases the probability of audience engagement. The four point check is: Will it inspire our audience? Is it aspirational for our audience? Does this instil a sense of pride in the audience? Are there any strong feel good factors in this?

Social media is getting preference over other mediums of content reach due to its engagement with audiences. A+E Networks | TV18 JV vice president and head marketing Sangeetha Aiyer, while speaking with indiantelevision.com. shares, “Content has one purpose – to reach out to the maximum people. Video has one purpose – to be viewed by maximum people. So our video content is judged on the basis of views, shares and reach.”

The key to reach viewers through any medium is content, History TV 18 says that it is not the quantity of content but quality of content that matters. Infotainment channels need not flood timelines with content, rather, they must provide the audience with fresh and engaging content. Also, it is important for channels to understand their target audience. Most channels claims to have young males as their primary audience, and that they are catering to a segment that is seeking aspiration and inspiration.

According to Aiyer, the other content except for regular stuff that people tend to like on social media platforms are stories related to rural India and national development. Success stories and inspirational stories are also well appreciated. The channel is planning to improve the format of its video content, which means going beyond television and essentially becoming an independent factual entertainment platform on its own.

The enthusiasm of a big player in the genre shows that infotainment soon will be levering the benefits of social media engagements and more activity from this sector from other players is likely to happen.

May 20, 2016
Rohit Bansal exits TV18 board of directors

MUMBAI: Rohit Bansal, one of the board of directors from the TV18 Broadcast Ltd has expressed his inability to continue with the company due to other commitments with effect from 1 May 2016. Bansal along with founder Raghav Bahl and others was appointed on board as an additional non-executive director on 14 January 2015.

Bansal was the managing director at India TV and has also been a part of The Times Of India as a senior business correspondent. Prior to that, he worked with Zee News as business editor. He has also worked at TV18 as special correspondent earlier, and has been a columnist at The Pioneer, Governance Now, DNA and IANS.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), which controls Network18 Media and Investments Ltd also has ownership on channels like CNBC-TV18, CNN-News18, IBN7 and websites like Moneycontrol.com, firstpost.com, etc.

May 2, 2016
Rohit Bansal exits TV18 board of directors

MUMBAI: Rohit Bansal, one of the board of directors from the TV18 Broadcast Ltd has expressed his inability to continue with the company due to other commitments with effect from 1 May 2016. Bansal along with founder Raghav Bahl and others was appointed on board as an additional non-executive director on 14 January 2015.

Bansal was the managing director at India TV and has also been a part of The Times Of India as a senior business correspondent. Prior to that, he worked with Zee News as business editor. He has also worked at TV18 as special correspondent earlier, and has been a columnist at The Pioneer, Governance Now, DNA and IANS.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), which controls Network18 Media and Investments Ltd also has ownership on channels like CNBC-TV18, CNN-News18, IBN7 and websites like Moneycontrol.com, firstpost.com, etc.

May 2, 2016
IndiaCast appoints Sanjay Jain as head of International Business; restructures Organisation

MUMBAI: IndiaCast, the domestic and international distribution arm of Viacom18 and TV18, has announced an organizational realignment within its top management, where in Chief financial officer Sanjay Jain has been additionally appointed as head of international business and will continue reporting to IndiaCast Group CEO Anuj Gandhi. All the International Business heads along with Outbound Sales and International Operations teams will report into Jain. IndiaCast also announced a series of leadership changes by establishing empowered business responsibilities across regions.

After successfully managing the business in UK, Govind Shahi has now been elevated to manage the US region along with his existing remit as business head UK & USA, followed by Sachin Gokhale, who will also oversee the companies’ activities in APAC, in addition to his current role as the business head of the MEA. Debkumar Dasgupta is now the business head of Syndication, New Media & South Asia.

Commenting on the organizational restructuring, IndiaCast Group CEO Anuj Gandhi said, “Over the last several years our top management has demonstrated innovative approaches in content monetization and marketing across the globe. Sanjay brings to the table nearly two and half decades of financial and general management experience. I am confident that Sanjay’s proficiency and experience coupled with our bold growth agenda will help us excel in our business ambitions.”

April 20, 2016