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  • Fifa Women’s World Cup sets new TV viewing records

    Fifa Women’s World Cup sets new TV viewing records

    MUMBAI: Soccer’s governing body Fifa has announced that the Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 has set a new benchmark for the sport after viewers around the world tuned in en masse and smashed several TV audience records along the way.


    This was particularly notable in the host nation Germany, the defending champions twice over, as well as in the countries of the two finalists, the USA and Japan.


    The four games featuring the German team all gained average audiences of more than 14 million, with their final three matches attracting averages of over 16 million viewers nationwide – by far the highest audiences on record for Fifa Women’s World Cup matches in Germany.


    An average audience of over 17 million people watched Germany bow out to Japan, representing nearly a quarter of the German population.


    To put these figures into context, an average German audience of 15.5 million watched the recent Klitschko v. Haye World Championship boxing match in Hamburg, Germany, and an average of 14.8 million watched Germany v. Serbia at the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa.
     
    The German audiences for the Fifa Women’s World Cup are also the highest audiences for any sporting programme in the market since the final in 2010.


    Fifa TV director Niclas Ericson said, “These are solid figures on their own, but when you put them into context with other major sports events they emphatically underline that the FIFA Women’s World Cup was an exceptionally popular spectacle for TV viewers.”


    In the US, an average audience of over 14.1 million watched the final between the US and Japan.


    ESPN delivered the large majority of the audience, reporting an average of close to 13.5 million and a peak audience during the penalty shoot-out of over 21.1 million. This is ESPN’s highest-ever audience for a football match and ranks as the second-highest audience for a daytime telecast in US cable history (behind the 2011 Rose Bowl). These audiences were also over three times higher than the US average audience for the final round of golf’s Open Championship on Sunday, as well as nearly 10 per cent higher than the audience for baseball’s All Star Game last week.


    Newly crowned world champions Japan also achieved record audiences at home for the final despite the match airing in the early hours of Monday morning. An average audience of 10.4 million watched Japan beat the USA, while a peak audience of over 15 million witnessed the penalty shoot-out. This audience is more than three times higher than the previous record for a women’s football match in Japan set by the semi-final last week, and it is more than 50 per cent higher than the audience in Japan for the final of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa. This also compares favourably to Japanese audiences for other major sporting events, including The Masters golf tournament.


    In France, a record audience was set for the France v. USA match, with an average audience of over 2.3 million tuning in. This is more than double the previous record for a women’s football match in the market, which had been set for the France v. England quarter-final earlier in the tournament. The audience in France peaked at nearly 3.3 million towards the end of the France v. USA match.
     

  • ‘Paanchvi Paas will be telecast in the UK and US’ : Akash Sharma – Bulldog Media & Entertainment MD

    ‘Paanchvi Paas will be telecast in the UK and US’ : Akash Sharma – Bulldog Media & Entertainment MD

    Akash Sharma has been at the forefront of acquiring, developing and launching high-quality prime-time hit shows in India since 2005.

     

    An economics graduate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, Sharma spearheaded Bulldog Media & Entertainment’s efforts to be awarded the Indian licence to the international format of 2007 “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” from Mark Burnett Productions. He is currently serving as an executive producer to the Indian version of “5th Grader” on Star Plus hosted by Shah Rukh Khan. Interestingly, Sharma shares his birthday (2 November) with SRK and likes to refer to this as a coincidence indicative of their similar destiny.

     

    In an interview with Jaahnavi P Paal, Bulldog Media & Entertainment MD Sharma reveals all about “Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?,” the company’s future plans and lots more.

     

    Excerpts:

    Who are the stakeholders in Bulldog Entertainment? What are the core areas that the company is concentrating into?
    We are a new-age company which is just a year old. We have Ramit Bharti Mittal (from the promoter family of Bharti Enterprises Ltd) as a shareholder. We understand the business and the management side of it as well. Right now, we are into providing television content. We look across the globe for mature television content that would work for Indian audiences. For us as content providers, it is boom time as with the onslaught of new channels it has opened up a new client base. We just delivered our first big show – Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?

    ‘Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader’ is a format owned by Mark Burnett. How did you acquire the format of the show?
    The Mittals are very active in the media space. Both Mittal and I went to USA and told them our story. We told them how content is saturated in India and how we were looking at innovative content. We wanted to shake up the apple cart, too, as the saas bahu shows were going on and on. We told them we would be able to drop the hammer on the Indian market and that too with a bang. We did not leave Los Angeles and kept talking to all top broadcasters. It was in 2007 when we were invited to the Natpe conference. We were the only Indian company who got to see the presentation of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader by Mark Burnett. We saw the show and played it without knowing what it really was. But what’s interesting is that at the presentation they played the game with us and Ramit who volunteered to be part of it got his question wrong (“Which is the longest river in Asia?”)

    Do you think the format is suitable for the Indian market?
    India has become so global. Whether it is domestic or international content, right now the focus is to get quality content. If there is a show and it’s successful, then it’s a proven formula and a less calculated risk. Getting licenced content is a safer bet. Viewers need quality programmes and this is our focus. In Paanchvi Pass, we will broadcast it in a handful of territories outside India.

     

    The show is being produced by Synergy and Bulldog. Out of the 50+ territories in the world, we knew that it was most relevant in India because we focus on education more than anywhere else. Right from the start, we knew that it was an SRK, Star plus show, and hence we did not go anywhere else.

     

    In India, it will go on air when kids go on vacation. And will go on at least for a year. But what’s interesting to share is the fact that Paanchvi Paas will be telecast in the UK and USA for the NRI audience. We are in talks with representatives from New Zealand, Canada, Indonesia and Australia so that Indians across the globe can watch it.

     

    We are also launching a licencing and merchandising division with Star Plus where we will promote toys, games and apparel during Paanchvi Paas.

    How would ‘Paanchvi Pass’ be different from KBC?
    KBC has been around since 2000. It’s been completely put out to the public. First Big B was the host; then came SRK. It’s not the host but the format that has run its course. There were gaps which happened over eight years. KBC is a general knowledge, trivia game show. Paanchvi Pass is a different quizzing concept than KBC. You have kids as life lines, grade school-level questions and all demographics coming to watch the show. The show has in-built drama, comedy and education. I think Star was looking at something fresh to redefine their programming. With our vision and their platform, we have a great partnership.

    How does the deal that you have recently inked with CBS Paramount for the show ‘America’s Next Top Model’ look like?
    It’s a little early for us to talk about this. In January, we launched the show in China. It was one of the few shows to be licenced there. Its all about glamour but outside the usual singing-dancing reality shows we have been seeing. It allows an average, normal person who is interested in modelling to be part of the show. We have recently acquired India rights for America’s Next Top Model. We had been after CBS since the past one and half years. Hosted by Tyra Banks, the show is in its tenth season in the US. It’s the No 1 show on Foxtel in Australia. It is in its fourth season in the UK. We are in initial talks with broadcasters in India. We are only looking at top general entertainment channels (GEC) as this is a big-ticket show. America’s Next Top Model is a brand and there should be a fit between the channel and the brand. This one is a franchise and each territory globally will be renewed season after season, and so we’re looking at a channel which will be a good fit.

     

    We are also looking at casting A-list model-cum-actors to host the show.

    How is the format of the ‘America’s Next Top Model’ different from so many other shows currently running in almost all Hindi GECs?
    In order for a format to be successful, it has to have the local masala. We do look to bring the framework and then localise it a little. We will Indianise the show after talking to broadcasters. Bulldog will give the framework and the production house will then add the masala. But we will protect the brand. We have shortlisted production houses who can effectively produce it. This decision will be jointly taken by us and the broadcaster. The show will have your next-door neighbour girl who aspires to be a model. The hunt for her will be on a national level. The show will begin with about 35 wannabe models out of which 15-17 girls will be shortlisted and put in a house. They will then be trained on all aspects of modelling. After which one of them will be eliminated every week. The viewer gets to see the transition of the girls to super models. The viewers will be able to relate to the struggles and challenges that the models brave. There will be a panel celeb judges representing all walks of life.
    ‘In the long run, we do want to get our hands dirty in production. We’re seeing fragmentation in TV channels’

    How big would be the prize money for the show?
    In the US, it has a complete package of a cash component, one year’s contract with a top modelling agency, a car, a film contract and a few additional perks. In India, too, we may offer something similar. The girls also get to travel for international shoots for a fortnight during the show.

    What are the other shows that are in the pipeline?
    We have just acquired a fiction show, Nuevo Rico Nuevo Pobre (“New Rich, New Poor”) from Canal Caracol TV who is the top broadcaster in Colombia. This is a very exciting deal for us as it marks our foray into the fiction space. It will set a precedent in the licencing of fiction content.

    This concept has been sold to Fox in USA and now we have the rights in India. It will be a heavily promoted show for them, and is scheduled to be launched this fall on prime time.

    What are the future plans for your company?
    In the long run, we do want to get our hands dirty in production. We’re seeing fragmentation in TV channels. This is a boon for us as this helps channels cut through the clutter. It opens up new opportunities for us so that we can change their programming. Viewers want quality now because of the clutter. And this will be our main focus.
  • We are confident of achieving a turnover of Rs 4.5 billion in the digital audio video segment by year end : Moon B Shin- LG managing director

    We are confident of achieving a turnover of Rs 4.5 billion in the digital audio video segment by year end : Moon B Shin- LG managing director

    Electronics major LG Electronics India Ltd (LGIL) recently announced their foray and focus on digital audio video products in Bangalore. LG showcased their latest offerings in the USA – the Super Multi Blue– a product they claim as the world’s first dual high definition player.

    LGIL managing director and LG Group president South West Asia Moon B Shin took on the reins of Indian operations in January 2007. A core member of the LG team, Shin is traveling over 100 countries including the Middle East, Africa and India.

    In an exclusive interview with Indiantelevision.com’s Tarachand Wanvari Shin highlights LG’s plans for India, with a special emphasis on the digital audio video segment.

    Excerpts:

    LGIL has a turnover of Rs 82.5 billion. Considering that the audio-video segment is expected to account for just Rs 4.5 billion, how are you planning to push your presence in this category?
    I know that comparatively this is a small amount, but these are the products that we expect good growth from. In the video category, we are placed number one with 26 per cent market share, Phillips is next with 22 per cent share. In audio we are far behind, we are around 13 per cent I think there number one is Sony and number two is Phillips because our presence at the moment is very small and we set the targets and these are the areas that we have to pickup. We have to beat Sony and Phillips. We have really worked very hard, product planning and selling, marketing for the last couple of years. We have come with really very new range of products.

    Phillips and Sony are strong in the cassette and audio tapes analog space. You don’t seem to have launched any products in that category?
    Today we launched MP3, MP4, the portable DVD player, the car audio system – from the lower end segment to the high-end, we have a really full range. That analog tape market is the rural market and is coming down. Our focus is on digital.

    How do your other products stack up against competition?
    Overall in India the presence is quite sound. In consumer electronics and home appliances we are around 28-29 per cent. For GSM this year we are going to sell around five million sets and we are going to reach minimum revenues of US$ 200million from this stream. AV is around US$ 100million. We expect a total revenue of Rs 95 billion or around US$ 2.2 billion, so the 300 million translates to a little less than 15 per cent of our overall revenues.

    How important is India as a market for LG?
    India accounts for around 6 per cent share of the global revenues. India is tremendously important for LG. By 2010, our target is to increase the India share to 10 per cent of LG’s global revenues. Our top management, they really pay attention to this market. The market conditions are very good and the government is very smart, they maintain an open policy, India is a market driven economy. All these things are very positive for us. The corporate attention on this market is really huge. Maybe even more than China.

    LG has a large amount of visibility as far as mass communications are concerned. What are marketing and advertisement spends?
    Every year for above the line and below the line, we spend around US$ 50 million in India. Last year we invested around US$ 46-48 million, this year we plan US$ 50 million. This figure may change because every month we are growing by 20 – 25 per cent. We are on right track.

    So which segment is driving the growth?
    The flat panel display, GSM, computer monitors, and now AV these are driving our growth. And they are also our future growth engines. Maybe PC’s too.

    What is your market share in PC’s?
    Laptops and desktops is around 6 million, and this will grow fast, so at the moment it is very minimal, around 3 per cent. But, we are coming up with good designs and technology so the PC potential is very good. The market size of laptops is area that we have to focus on.
    ‘Flat panel display, GSM, computer monitors, and now AV are driving our growth‘

    Do you have lower end laptops also?
    Yes we do, but we are not going to play in the low-end segment. We are going to really play in the top of the line products.

    What are your forecasts for the next year – your growth targets?
    Every year we have to grow by a minimum of 20 per cent. By all means we have to grow by this percentage. By mobilizing the attention from headquarters, from market surveys and through consultants like McKenzie, maybe work together with them if we feel that we cannot meet the targets.

    What is the proportion of the products that you sell here that are made in India?
    Almost 90 per cent. About 10 per cent we import as finished products or complete business units (CBU). The balance 90 per cent we manufacture and export too. Some are CKD, some completely manufactured in India. The local content varies product wise. But it’s between 50-70 per cent.

    Any plans to expand further here in India?
    Not for the next several years no. In Pune we have a large space at Ranjangaon. I would not say that we have idle capacity, we have other buildings-two as a matter of fact, one is full of operations and the second building is 20 per cent operational. So there is space. We have to invest only in the manufacturing facility. The building and everything else is ready. We have to invest only in the machinery, that we will go on within Pune.

    How long have you been in India and what is your experience here?
    I have been here two years. Over this time, I have travelled a lot, to almost every corner of the country, I have pretty much covered the A and B class towns. I was a real frequent flyer, I wanted to see what is taking place in every corner of India and I could observe and find that the potential in India is really good. I think India is the only country that can fight against China. India will definitely be in the forefront as far as economic growth, or the GDP growth is concerned, it will be neck to neck with China in the next 30 years or so. China is growing very fast, but India is also growing as fast. The potential is there and I am going to communicate with the headquarters about this marketplace and how it is important. My outlook for India is very positive.

    Could you speak about the infrastructure in India?
    I was born in a very tiny town in Korea and I have grown up there. Maybe at times the infrastructure was even worse than it is today in India. So I am really accustomed to the poor infrastructure in the rural areas. For me there’s no problem at all.

    What is your opinion about the skill levels, the knowledge quotient of Indians?
    They are good, they are very fast learners. We used to send people to Korea and train them over there and then bring them here. We sent them to our other subsidiaries to benchmark. Their adaptation is excellent. Skill levels are good. I really appreciate them.
    Any R&D work being done in India for the LG group globally?
    Not much. In India we have only around seven people working on design. They have not yet contribute to the designing for LG globally. We have our own design centers all over the world, in Europe, China, in the United States. We have design centers located in every corner of the world to come up with local design and also to supply global designs.
  • ESPN US in mobile deal with MediaFlo

    ESPN US in mobile deal with MediaFlo

    MUMBAI: MediaFlo USA, a subsidiary of Qualcomm has signed a deal with US sports broadcaster ESPN.

    The deal will bring sports programming to MediaFlo USA’s new mobile entertainment service.

    The new ESPN Mobile TV channel – ESPN’s first on a wireless service – will offer a selection of live, simulcast sports events; breaking sports news, commentary and analysis; and realtime sports scores and game updates. MediaFLO USA will deliver this content directly to subscribers’ mobile phones.

    ESPN Enterprises executive VP Salil Mehta says, “The time is right to offer the first-ever sports wireless channel, ESPN Mobile TV. Historically, ESPN has been the leader in adopting new technologies to serve sports fans, and MediaFLO USA’s mobile entertainment service will make ESPN’s world-class programming come to life on the newest generation of mobile phones.”

    MediaFlo USA president Gina Lombardi says, “MediaFlo USA is revolutionizing television by offering, for the first time, must-see programming from world-class entertainment brands in a crystal-clear mobile viewing environment.

    “One of the keys to the broad adoption of mobile TV is the availability of high-quality content, and our agreement with ESPN will be a compelling draw for sports fans who want anytime, anywhere access to unmatched sports programming.”

    Guided by primary market research and consumer trials, MediaFlo USA intends to secure familiar, full-length content from many of the world’s leading media companies and leverage its dedicated, nationwide multicast network to deliver live, full-length, TV-quality programming to mobile phones.

  • Federation of Indian publishers to host workshop on intellectual property issues

    Federation of Indian publishers to host workshop on intellectual property issues

    MUMBAI: The Federation of Indian Publishers in association with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Geneva have announced a workshop on intellectual property issues in the publishing industry, to be held from 15 -16 February at the India International Centre, New Delhi.

    An official announcement made by the federation states that WIPO will bring together a host of speakers that includes:

    -Jon Tandler, attorney at law Isaacson Rosenbaum, Denver, USA.

    – Richard Balkwill, Copyright and Intellectual Property Consultant, COPYTRAIN, Oxford, UK.

    – Dr. Guriqbal Singh Jaiya, Director, SMEs Division, WIPO, Geneva.

    – Donna Ghelfi, Programme Officer, Creative Industries Division, WIPO, Geneva.
    The endeavour hopes to help Indian publishers to understand the intricacies of the issues concerning intellectual property, giving them a chance to clarify their doubts and discussions during the sessions. The event is being supported by the ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. A certificate will be awarded for participation in the workshop.

    The subjects that will be discussed at the workshop include:

    # The Creative Industries in the Book Publishing Industry.

    # Introduction to the Relevant Intellectual Property Rights.

    # The Publishing Value and Supply Chain.

    # Book Publishing Agreements.

    # Financial Business Models.

    # Reprographic Rights and the Importance of Collecting Societies

    # Evalution and Valuation of Intellectual Property Assets

    # Electronic Publishing

    # Role of Branding in Marketing

    # Emerging Trends.
     

  • Salma Sizzles on Inside the Actors Studio this Sunday only on PIX

    MUMBAI: Widely considered to be the first Mexican actress to become a Hollywood movie star since Dolores Del Rio, Salma Hayek is known for her striking and dark-eyed personality which brings a fiery presence and an unusual sort of beauty to the screen. So wait no more to experience Salma sizzle on Inside the Actors Studio this Sunday only on PIX.

     

    A soap star in her native Mexico, Hayek risked her entire career to come to Los Angeles, where she struggled to be taken seriously. Her discovery by director Robert Rodriguez, who cast her in his 1995 film Desperado, gave Hayek her breakthrough, and she subsequently gained a reputation as one of Hollywood’s sexiest and busiest actresses.

     

    Read more and get a peak into Salma’s talk with James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio this Sunday.

     

    Facts about Salma

    Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.

     

    Salma is an Arabic name that means “peace” or “calm”.

     

    She was sent to a boarding school in Louisiana at age 12, but was soon sent back home after getting in trouble for frequently terrorizing the nuns.

     

    Salma loves dogs. She told Jay Leno that one of her dogs tries to dance with someone whenever it hears salsa music.

     

    Starting out in local theatre productions, she eventually moved to television and landed a starring role in the popular soap opera Teresa.

     

    Was nominated for her first Oscar for her role in FRIDA at the 75th Academy Awards.

     

    Get this and more of the “Bombshell” star on Inside the Actors Studio at 7:00 pm this Sunday on PIX!!!

  • Reliance Communications’ Falcon Cable System becomes operational

    Reliance Communications’ Falcon Cable System becomes operational

    MUMBAI: Reliance Communications owned Falcon Undersea Cable System has started its operational from today unleashing international bandwidth between India, Middle East and Europe.

    The Flag Telecom Global Network would be the world’s largest undersea cable system covering 65,000 route kms, with the launch of Falcon. The current bandwidth on India-Europe route is controlled by VSNL and Bharti.

    “Falcon will have an equally powerful impact on the economic front, driving higher levels of trade, commerce and global integration,” Reliance ADA chairman Anil Ambani said.

    The vision at Reliance ADA group is to ‘give millions of ordinary people across the world the means to realize their dreams, the power to shape their destiny, the chance to fulfill their true and diverse potential,” Ambani added.

    The Flag Global Network bridges the distance between 35 diverse developed and developing economies, connecting the global economic hubs in USA, UK, Germany, France, Middle East, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Japan to name a few.

    The Company’s Flag is the first global network of this scale to provide integrated connectivity on one seamless network to the three highest growing regions; India, Middle East and China; in terms of international bandwidth demand.

  • HBO, NBC lead winners circle at Emmy Awards

    HBO, NBC lead winners circle at Emmy Awards

    MUMBAI: US TV industry’s biggest award show, the 58th Primetime annual sEmmy Awards, saw HBO sweeping aways with nine awards followed by NBC, which managed to bag six.

    The crime drama “24” won the Emmy for best television drama. This is the first time that 24 has won an Emmy for the best drama show.Kiefer Sutherland won the best actor award for his portrayal of counter terrorist agent Jack bauer for the same show. Whereas, The Office took the trophy for best comedy show.

    The best actress award was taken by Julia Louis-Dreyfus for her role as Christine Campbell in The New Adventures of Old Christine. Dreyfus was earlier working in the television drama Seinfeld. Tony Shalhoub won for his role in Monk.

    The Sopranos,” heading in its final episodes, won an Emmy for outstanding drama writing.

    Elizabeth I” won nine awards, including best miniseries. Fox’s “24” was second with five awards.

    Ironically, three of the four best supporting actor and actress awards went to performances from shows that have gone off the air. Alan Alda won the best supporting actor award for his role as Arnold Vinick on NBC’s “The West Wing.” The political drama ended its seven-year run on NBC in May winning 26 Primetime Emmys over the years.

    And Blythe Danner was adjudged the best supporting actress for the show Huff. Megan Mullally won the trophy for the supporting actress in the sitcom Will & Grace which came to a close on NBC in May after an eight year run.

    Jeremy Piven was named best supporting actor for his role as a Hollywood agent on HBO’s show Entourage. The award for the best film went to HBO’s The Girl In The Cafe.

    Mariska Hargitay won the Emmy for outstanding actress in a drama series for her role in NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

    The award ceremony was aired on NBC and hosted by Conan O’Brien. The show has received cricitism though from some quarters for the fact that the same old shows are nominated. New shows that keep viewers hooked like Lost sometimes get ignored. The Academy had changed the rules for voting and that critics say that it may have led to nonsensical omissions like Lost and also Hugh Laurie failing to get nominated for House.

    The criticism is that even with the change in the voting rules shows from cable channels like TNT, FX, Sci-Fi and USA that are seen by critics as pushing the boundaries are ignored. Shows such as Rescue Me and The Closer might get a token nomination or two, but the bulk of what the cable networks have to offer is not present.

    Of course American cable television is not as heavily reliant on advertsing as the broadcast networks. That allows for more flexibility in the shows that the likes of HBO do though the budgets might be less. The other challenge for the Emmys and other shows that honour the best in American television is that the line between what constitutes a lead actor and a supporting one is getting blurred.

    Under the new Emmy rules holders of various television jobs can vote in on all categories, instead of actors only voting for actors. Ironically Dick Askin who heads the Academy has pointed out that the aim of the change was get away from the valid criticism that the Emmys have a sameness. The criticism is that when the same shows and same actors keep getting nominated it leaves no room for newer shows to be recognised.

    It is worth pointing out that this problem is also glaring at both the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Those awards recognise both television and film. With film the nominee roster keeps changing and fans can look forward to what is nominated as it might reflect trends like earlier this year when independent films outshone their studio counterparts. With television though there is a sense of deja vu as the same faces and shows keep cropping up.

    Coming back to the Emmy’s the opening kit that featured O’Brien has received criticism for being insensitive. Basically he travelled on an airplane which crahes on an islland like the show Lost. After being greeted by Lost star Jorge Garcia, O’Brien fled through a mysterious hatch and ended up crashing through other series including The Office, 24 and House. Yesterday 49 people perished in the US’ deadliest air crash in five years.

  • ‘Our target is to reach the number one position in Kerala market within the next two to three years’ : Sudhakar Jayaram – Amrita TV director & CEO

    ‘Our target is to reach the number one position in Kerala market within the next two to three years’ : Sudhakar Jayaram – Amrita TV director & CEO

    Amrita Enterprises Pvt Ltd (AEPL), promoted by a group of investors closely associated with Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, launched Amrita TV in 2005 April on an initial investment of Rs 500 million. On the launch, its positioning as a general entertainment channel raised eyebrows. After all, the channel was named after Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the renowned spiritual leader from Kerala.

    The initial scepticism soon gave way to acceptance and acknowledgement as the channel made attempts to develop its own identity in the highly contested Malayalam language market. The icing on the cake came when Amrita TV made an almost clean sweep at the 2005 Kerala State TV Awards. Though yet to pose a real threat to market leaders Asianet and Surya, the one year old channel is now recognised as one of the strong players in the market by pundits.

    At the helm of affairs at Amrita TV is the young and sophisticated director and CEO Sudhakar Jayaram, who has spent over 15 years in global organisations such as Bank of America and Infosys, USA, holding senior management positions. Jayaram returned to Kerala in 2004, responding to the motherland’s – or rather the Mata’s — call, as he puts it. Amrita TV was about to launch, and as fate would have it, Jayaram was offered the top management position.

    Not just that! He has also been given the responsibility to manage the Amritanandamayi Super Specialty Hospital at Kochi, Kerala. Entertainment and medicine stand oceans apart, but this youngster holding MBA, B.Tech degrees has made the task look much simpler. On the occasion of an Onam celebration Amrita TV conducted in Mumbai early this month, Indiantelevision.com’s Bijoy A Kmet up with Jayaram.

    Excerpts:

    Amrita TV has completed one year in the Malayalam television market. Please give us a perspective on the journey so far?
    Looking back, I would say the channel has done a decent job. Top of all our achievements, I would like to mention the 15 State TV Awards we won in our inaugural year itself. To make a mark, we have opted for quality content, which is youthful and vibrant.

    We have in fact a three-pronged programming strategy in place. First of all, we have our share of unique channel ID programmes, exploring the programming segments untouched. We have got lot of accolades from the market on the quality of our graphics and the high visual standards.

    Then, we tried to give a total new dimension to the market’s popular programme genre, which included serials and other entertainment shows. Our strategy was to explore progressive ideas and thus distance ourself from run of the mill stuff. Thirdly, we made our best efforts possible to depict our culture and heritage through various non-fiction programmes. And the results have been very encouraging for a new channel such as Amrita TV.

    What was your strategy to gain an identity in this highly competitive market?
    It is a very competitive market, with market leaders (Asianet & Surya TV) commanding almost 70 per cent share. But, at the same time, this is a market where you can make a mark with innovative strategies. You need to spot the vacuum and work on areas which are still unexplored and then you will have a decent product with its own identity in hand.

    Our entry strategy was to come up with a product, which is classy and vibrant, different from the existing products. We wanted to make Amrita TV very dynamic and also with full of life. And at the same time, it was very important for us to carry along the mass General Entertainment Channel (GEC) tag with entertaining and appealing content. The idea was establish our roots as early as possible.

    The core team of Amrita TV is constituted by people who are well aligned with the market professionally. For example, the programming department is headed by noted film director Shyamaprasad. The news department is lead by noted journalist Neelan, who has over 35 years experience in electronic and print media. Getting such established professionals on board has also helped us position ourself really well and create a strong awareness in the market.

    Which are the key factors that are driving this market? What are the latest market trends?
    Kerala as one of the most challenging television markets in the country. The viewers here are very different and you just can’t play with your strategies in Malayalam. I would say, if a strategy works here, you will be able to move it more confidently in the other regional markets.

    Like any other television market, soaps, movies and news play key roles in the Malayalam market also. The prime time band is ruled by soaps on weekdays, while weekends are dominated by films, film-based programmes, non-fiction shows and programmes covering the music genre.

    Malayalam television is ruled by the female audience. Even when targeting this segment through prime time soaps and other programmes, you need to alter this system a bit to help the market to expand. How will you do it? The answer is ‘youth programmes’. If you can make programmes, that can rope in females and the youth at the same time, that would make some positive impact on the market.

    Given that Soaps, Movies and News drive the market, what is Amrita TV’s strategy to explore each of these segments in the best manner possible?
    Our channel driver programme is a reality talent hunt show Super Stars, made on the lines of Indian Idol. This programme is doing well in the 8:30 – 9:30 pm slot and we enjoy a channel share in the range of 12 – 16 per cent in this particular time band. Then we have our dose of serials for the prime time band. As I mentioned earlier, we have made our best efforts to make our soaps stand out. We have made it a point not to manipulate the viewers’ emotions through soaps. Our soaps are not emotionally far fetched, which give a lot of stress to the viewer. Our soaps are there just for entertainment.

    Then we have our USP in our non-fiction programmes which are made in-house. These are mainly cultural programmes, which actually carry along our channel ID. We have our non-fiction programmes well spread out across the week. Our belief is that there is space for good, tasteful and nourishing content on TV, as people are coming back to their organic roots.

    Then there is this biggest draw of the lot – Movies. When we launched, the lack of popular and blockbuster movies had crippled our weekend strategies to an extent. But the issue is being resolved now. In the last one year, we have acquired 15 of the 40 top Malayalam box office grossers. We have lined up two of the latest blockbusters for the upcoming Onam festival. Amrita TV has a library of about 500 movies now.

    Having said that, I would like to point out that, Amrita TV will never bank on movies. We want to explore all the programming segments and movies are just a part of this strategy.

    We have given a lot of stress on our news programming also. Amrita TV has a strong network of journalists across Kerala and Delhi, while stringers and independent reporters bring us news from the other areas and international locations. In the next phase, we have plans to beef up our news segment. We are planning to set up bureaus in all the hotspots of the country, including Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

    On an average, how much you spend on programming per month?
    Programming budget ranges from Rs 65,000 to Rs 200,000 per episode for soaps. We spend about Rs 20 million on our in-house productions per month.
    ‘If a strategy works in Malayalam, you will be able to move the same more confidently in the other regional markets‘

    Last year, the lack of blockbusters in your kitty has seen you adopting the strategy of dubbing popular Tamil movies in Malayalam. Did the strategy work and will you retain this tactic in the changed circumstances? Also, is there any plan to explore dubbed Hollywood movies?
    Yes, we have been telecasting popular Tamil movies dubbed in Malayalam – especially during festivals such as Onam, Christmas and Vishu. This has been an inspiring experience for us. Our decision to use popular Malayalam cine stars for dubbing has really helped us to pull it off. For example, we had Mohanlal himself dubbing for Iruvar, when it was dubbed in Malayalam. We will retain this strategy. Amrita TV will be telecasting two Tamil blockbusters dubbed in Malayalam during the upcoming Onam festival.

    We have no plan to explore dubbed Hollywood movies as we believe that, Malayalam audience will only accept a theme, which has lot to do with the Kerala culture and heritage. On the other hand, Tamil movies serve this purpose really well.

    Telefilms also is an area, where Amrita TV has proved itself. We have produced about 22 short films last year and have plans to do almost the same number in 2006 also. We have a strong team of creative professionals, who bring lot of quality to the table.

    What is your take on the movie acquisition scenario in Malayalam?
    The number of films produced in Malayalam has gone alarmingly down and consequently, acquisition costs have shot up. Acquisition rates have shot up by almost 60 per cent. Since movies are a crucial part of the strategy in Malayalam, you can never opt out of the game. Last year, we set aside about Rs 100 million for movie acquisition.

    Event programming is evolving in the South Indian market in a big way? What is Amrita TV’s strategy?
    Amrita TV does not do many events. Our strategy is to conduct events with a relevance. Events should serve a purpose. In my opinion, the size and magnitude of an event is important and not the quantity. If you are doing an event, it should make an impact.

    This month, we conducted a De-addict Kerala campaign, which was an on-ground activity to highlight the after-effects of addiction, stories of addicts, de-addiction centres, preventive and curative aspects.

    I won’t be able to give a low-down on the event budget as it varies from one activity to another.

    What is the size of the Malayalam television market in terms of advertising revenues? How is Amrita TV positioned?
    The size can be in the range of Rs 1.7 billion to Rs 2.2 billion. The market expansion is mainly driven by the retail boom that Kerala is witnessing presently. Hence, retail clients command a significant place in any channel’s sales strategy. Also, the entry of new players such as MM News and Bharat TV can expand the market further. After Asianet and Surya, Amrita TV commands a prominent space in terms of value for money. Being a young channel, we are making our best efforts to better our position.

    What is the plan of action for 2006 and what is your take on competition?
    We target to reach the market leader position within the next two to three years. The first year’s result has boosted our confidence tremendously. Now, we want to expand this clout. We are looking forward to the real battle.

    I think the next five year strategy may be totally different from that of the past five years. New viewer habits will give shape to new strategies. The formulas are changing. You need to adapt yourself to the changing times and we are very strong in this area. Being a relatively new player in the market, Amrita TV has got the flexibility and the know-how to understand and accept any new challenge and this is our main advantage.

    We have been constantly working on our content. We keep a tab on the market trends through research updates and studies. For example, before launching Superstar, we had done a thorough research on Sony’s experience with Indian Idols. So, instead of letting the competitor’s moves decide your next strategy, we have been making consistent attempts to know the audience pulse and bring new products accordingly. Keeping the viewers happy and filled is the real challenge. Competition is secondary.

    Please comment on your progress on the distribution front? Have you managed to get as 100% presence in India by now? What is the plan for foreign shores?
    We are now in the prime time band of the Malayalam bouquet across Kerala, placed near Asianet and Surya TV. We are also available in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, in certain cable networks. We are working on this front and will be improving our availability across the country at the earliest. We are also available on the DTH platform Dish TV.

    On the international front, Amrita TV is available in the United Arab Emirates and in the US. We have also signed a carriage deal with the IPTV operator JumpTV. Amrita TV will be entering Europe and the UK very soon. We are working on the plan.

    Onam season, which contributes maximum to the kitty of Malayalam channels, is here. What is the tactic you have employed to market your Onam shows the best way possible?
    Onam festival is the most crucial festival for any Malayalam channel. Amrita TV has conceptualised a slew of innovative programmes for Onam. We have explored all the areas of entertainment thoroughly to bring an array of quality programmes. These include telefilms, music shows, film-based programmes, talent shows and cultural programmes. As I mentioned earlier, we have a couple of latest blockbuster movies to drive the festival. We are well-prepared to take on the challenge.
    What are the new ventures AEPL is planning in the next phase?
    AEPL is planning to set up a separate division for feature film production. Though the business plan is still in its primary stages of evolution, the company is targeting a February 2007 launch of the initiative.

    The plan is to enter into partnership with key stake holders in the market such as producers and distributors and offer our expertise in this field to launch feature film projects. We will be also launching solo projects as well, making us an independent producer. An important objective of the initiative is to solve the supply demand issue that, which is threatening the movie acquisition business presently. This way, we will be able to beef up our movie library with latest hits.

    Then we have plans to launch more channel initiatives, but a concrete plan is yet to emerge. Our next venture will be a news channel – I can say at least that.
    What is the role played by Mata Amritanandamyi in the channel’s operations?
    Mata Amritanandamyi neither plays any role in the channel’s operations, nor is she involved in the business financially. We have a spiritual programme, conducted by Mata on our channel and that’s it. But, we are driven by her vision and it gives us immense strength and courage to execute the strategies.

    Though the ultimate aim of Amrita TV is not really commercial, the market demands such a stance. To stay afloat in this business, you need to position yourself as a strong commercial player and we are just doing that. However, our focus remains on adding quality to people’s lives through human-oriented programming.
  • UTV Software inks agreement with Overbrook Entertainment Inc

    UTV Software inks agreement with Overbrook Entertainment Inc

    MUMBAI: UTV Software Communications Ltd has entered into an agreement with Overbrook Entertainment Inc. to produce two full-length feature films.

    While one will be a live action film in English, the second one will be a full length English animated film.

    Further, UTV Software Communications Ltd’s subsidiary UTV Communications (USA) and Fox Searchlight Pictures Inc have entered into a distribution and exploitation agreement for the film titled I Think I Love My Wife.