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  • Endemol Shine gets ready for a different Bigg Boss 14 season

    Endemol Shine gets ready for a different Bigg Boss 14 season

    MUMBAI: The three most popular features of Bigg Boss are- its host Salman Khan, Bigg Boss’ voice and finally the house. These three actually form the backdrop of every image that a viewer has about Bigg Boss throughout a season’s journey. The other bit that a viewer remembers is the participants and the variety of emotions that run amok in the house. 

    On 3 October, the biggest reality show from Colors is all set to make a comeback with its fourteenth season. The 2020 edition will only see celebrities; no commoners like in the previous years. But before the contestants step in, let’s take a quick look at what’s been going on inside the Bigg Boss house, which without any doubt has been a constant participant in every season.

    Production major Endemol Shine India has been producing BiggBoss year-on-year for Colors. Its CEO Abhishek Rege shares that format wise there are no changes with the usual tasks being hurled at the competitors; however, production has been planned differently.Larger shoots and performances and tasks have been planned for the beginning of the season, before contestants enter the house.Other precautions have also been taken. A team of six crew  have been mandated to take or bring food, regular supplies and props into the house. The PPE clad assistants will have no interactions with the outside world,; they will be in complete isolation.

    RubinaDilaik, Abhinav Shukla, Jasmin Bhasin, Aly Goni, Jaan Kumar, Shubhangi Atre, Karan Patel, Nishant Malkani, Gia Manek Eijaz Khan, Rahul Vaidya, Nikki Tamboli, Shagun Pandey, Pavitra Punia, Neha Sharma and Naina Singh among others are strongly being speculated as the participants for this season. Rege refuses to confirm or deny the names but he admits that all the participants are currently under compulsory 14-day quarantine, which will end when shoots begin early next month. Also, they – along with the crew – will undergo regular Covid2019 tests and health and hygiene will be given prime importance. Medical and Covid professionals have visited the house to ensure that all SOPs for productions and more are being followed  – including the presence of an ambulance – and that the sets are Covid-safe.

    Read more news on Bigg Boss

     

     

    The production house has also hired an external Covid2019 compliance company PWC which has been charged with looking after distribution of masks to celebs and crew to sanitisation to fumigation to taking and maintaining regular  temperature checks.

    Endemol Shine India  creatives normally keep track of local trends and developments before building the narrative and ideas for Bigg Boss every season. This year the theme of the house is largely based on things that audiences have missed out during Covid2019. The celebs will get to use a salon and a spa, a movie theatre, and a shopping mall. But these luxuries will have to be earned by them after succeeding in some thrilling and fun-filled tasks. 

    Rege reveals that Salman Khan will be shooting for the promo on 1 October with the contestants on the Bigg Boss set in Mumbai’s Film City.

    “We are keeping very stringent measures and SOPs.. Salman will also take the swab test prior to entering the set. And, to further ensure safety on the set, we have hired more people than we normally hire every year,” says he. “However, at any given point we will have very few people on set, everybody else will be there on the backend in their respective rooms and other places in isolation. We are not crowding. Usually when any eviction happens, there are lots of guests and visitors that come in.This time it is a no-no.”

    Weekend KaWaar used to be Bigg Boss’main highlight and it featured  Salman Khan interacting with contestants in front of a  live audience. However, this time the studio is taking the digital route.

    “We have created a huge digital wall where what was earlier the studio audience is connected live from their homes,” says Rege. “We have therefore made an arrangement where Salman can see the wall and audiences can see what is happening at the shoot and interactions can happen. So we have still kept the whole live angle working.”

    Read more news on Colors

    Recently, Salman revealed that he returned to host Bigg Boss 14 only because he knew the scale of production of the show would generate employment. He also agreed to accept a pay cut for this season.

     

     

    Like previous seasons, this time too, previous years’ contestants and winners will come in to add to the thrill. Amongst the names being touted are: Sidharth Shukla, Gauahar Khan, and Hina Khan will also bring a series of surprises for the contestants making this season an epitome of entertainment.The banter, quarrels, and one-upmanship, mental games, the behind the scenes gossip and the formation of groups amongst the inmates of the house are what have helped Bigg Boss build a loyal audience over the years. Another high impact Indian property – the IPL 2020 – has till the time of writing turned out to be a runaway winner, attracting viewers in un-believable numbers. Analysts believe Bigg Boss 14 is on course to beat its previous years’ performance as well just like the cricket league is doing. It’s over to the loyalists, the fans, to make that prediction come true for one of Colors biggest annual bets. 

  • Viacom18’s global push with international animation series

    Viacom18’s global push with international animation series

    MUMBAI: Entertaining kids on television is not a child’s play. Many an Indian broadcaster will agree. But Viacom18 owned Nickelodeon India has managed to do it well by bringing to life iconic characters like Motu Patlu, Gattu Battu, Shiva and Rudra amongst several others. Now the kids broadcaster is making its biggest bet: teaming up with its international associate Nickelodeon International to co-produce a new 2-D  animation series targeted at two to 14-year-olds all over the world.

    Titled The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj, it is slated to roll out on Nickelodeon’s international channels in 2021.

    “The UK and the US are two nations that produce a lot of animation content. India is the only region other than these two which has scaled up its original IP animation production capability,” says Viacom18 content & research Kids TV network creative head Anu Sikka. “When the UK team approached us, we thought as so many productions are happening in India why not do something from India. The idea was to create an IP and a show which works across the globe.”

    Read more news on Viacom18

    And that’s why it took the teams from the two companies which included – Sikka and Nickelodeon VP animation Chris Rose – two years to crack the project. Sikka brainstormed with her Indian colleagues to come up with the basic concept, which was then fine-tuned and honed jointly with the Nickelodeon International team. “We have incorporated India’s cultural nuances in the show in order to make it more endearing for both Indian and international audiences,” reveals Sikka.

    The writers room for The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj is now located in the US under head writer Jordan Gershowitz’s supervision. Creatives are being supervised by both the UK and Indian creative teams with the animation being done at Big Animation’s Pune studio.

    Read more news on Nickelodeon

    The channel is using Frame.io for better connectivity as well to clear assets and storyboards. Sikka highlights that due to the pandemic, the entire process slowed down. According to her, the studio has gradually picked up the pace and arranged software and necessary equipment for employees sitting at home. She says: “Luckily for kid's content and animation, we did not require any shoots, so our work didn’t stop. Yes, initially the challenge was to coordinate with everyone, there were internet connectivity issues at some places. There were initial hiccups but now we are back on track. Pre-production work that also includes conceptualisation and writing went at a rather swifter pace.”

    Sikka says that while the IP of the new series lies with Viacom18, distribution will be done by Nickelodeon International in the territories where it can be sold. Of course, the first telecast right will lie with all Nickelodeon channels. She says her  primary focus is to launch the show on a larger scale, and then depending on the traction the channel will look further into distribution and licensing.

    She points out that English dubbing will be done in both India and the UK, but the dubbing of the content in Hindi and other regional languages will be completely homegrown. She further adds, a movie franchise could also be in the works – just like Motu Patlu –  depending on The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj’s popularity.

    Animated shows on Indian television are budgeted at between Rs 12-25 lakh for a 2D series and Rs 22-35 lakh for a 3D one. Sikka was loathed to reveal the budget of the co-production. But industry sources reveal that it might be in multiples of what Indian shows can command.

    The news about the co-production has warmed many an animation industry veteran’s heart. Says one of them: “This is so good. There was a time when India was known for outsourcing and not for original IPs. But recent efforts like Mighty Little Bheem by Green Gold on Netflix and Vaibhav Studios’ Lamput on Cartoon Network has made waves globally and are telling a different story about India’s animation prowess.”

    The hope, amongst most industry professionals is that The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj will take that story of animation further into its next chapter. 

  • Salman Khan returns as super host of Bigg Boss 14

    Salman Khan returns as super host of Bigg Boss 14

    MUMBAI: Tables will turn as the most challenging year will now be challenged. Bogged down by the lockdown, shackled in chains of monotony and boredom, 2020 has been a year that laid complete waste to our best-made plans! But now it's time to turn the tide and unleash a superstorm of entertainment and celebration in the most spectacular manner! Ab paltega scene kyunki 2020 ko milega jawab with MPL presents Bigg Boss, powered by Dabur Dant Rakshak Ayurvedic Paste & TRESemme. The country’s most beloved superstar Salman Khan will return to your television screens, hosting the most anticipated show of the year and ensuring that the viewers will no longer be starved for entertainment! Living the normalcy will be an all-celeb line-up of housemates who will go through a plethora of emotions and drama in their race to the finish. And right when everyone will feel settled in the first 14 days, there will be a twist that will change the entire game. Produced by Endemol Shine India, the show will premiere on 3 October at 9 pm only on Colors and stream on Voot Select.
     
    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network Nina Elavia Jaipuria head said, “Our endeavor at Colors has always been to provide our viewers with uninterrupted entertainment – refreshing and exciting content and Bigg Boss has been a testament to this objective year after year. The last 6 months have been unprecedented and it brought along with it unexpected challenges and changes. With ‘Ab Paltega Scene, Kyunki Bigg Boss Dega 2020 Ko Jawab’ as the theme for this season, our aim is to amp up the excitement and ensure viewers forget their worries and are reminded of their normal lives. Adding to the experience, the Bigg Boss fans will get to watch the episodes before television on our premium video-on-demand service Voot Select along with 24 hours exclusive access into the house. I would also like to thank our partners- presenting sponsor Mobile Premier League, powered by sponsors- Dabur Dant Rakshak Ayurvedic Paste & TRESemmé and associate sponsor- Ching’s for their support and trust in brand Bigg Boss.”
     
    So, what exactly is ‘Ab Paltega Scene’ this year? Laced with uncertainty and ambiguity, 2020 has not been an easy ride, a year that changed the way we led our lives. While most of us have been confined to our homes for more than six months, shopping, movies, and salons have now seemed like a distant dream. So, this year, Bigg Boss 14 will see celebrities from different walks of life come together under one roof and get a chance to live their ‘once upon a time’ normal lives. In a first of its kind addition, Bigg Boss 14 introduces the luxuries of a salon and spa, a movie theatre, and a shopping mall for the contestants along with some thrilling and fun-filled tasks to compete against each other. But all this will not come easy to them, they will have to earn it. Adding to the thrill, some of the most loved ex-contestants- Sidharth Shukla, Gauahar Khan, and Hina Khan will also bring a series of surprises for the contestants making this season an epitome of entertainment. Will they enter the house? How will they impact the life of the housemates? Only time will tell.

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment CCO Manisha Sharma said, “This is a unique season of Bigg Boss – the pandemic has disrupted our daily lives and with Bigg Boss we attempt to bring back some sense of normalcy into our consumers’ lives, to try and truly cater to “ab scene paltega”. With each season of Bigg Boss, we have introduced new and fresh elements and themes to make it more engaging and entertaining for our audiences and this year is no exception. The Bigg Boss house will reimagine a normal scenario that we all have been missing out on with the inclusion of a salon & spa, movie theatre, and shopping mall facilities for the contestants. We broke all viewership records the previous season. So there’s a lot to look forward to. This year too we plan to take our viewers along on a roller coaster ride and the show will have a big twist in the first 14 days and something super exciting will follow. The thrill will multiply as the lineup of contestants and the different characteristics they bring with them will surely become a great family and friend circle conversation. Salman Khan, who has been the most gracious host is back again and we can’t wait for the excitement to unfold.”

    Read more news on Bigg Boss

    Salman Khan said, “As we get used to the new way of life, I am glad to be back with Bigg Boss to again entertain each and every one of you. A big property like Bigg Boss not only promises non-stop entertainment but also provides job opportunities to hundreds of people- both much needed in the current scenario. While this year we fight together the unprecedented times, we hope to bring some excitement in a rather stressful life. So, don’t leave your homes, sit back and gear up to go on a dhamakedaar journey of action and drama with Bigg Boss.”

    Mobile Premier League (MPL) growth and marketing senior vice president Abhishek Madhavan said, “Over the years, Bigg Boss has established an outstanding connection with the audiences and has earned itself a massive base of dedicated fans. Our association with the property gives us a great opportunity to reach out to those viewers and engage with them through the show. Just like Bigg Boss, our app also caters to a vast audience base which makes it a perfect fit. As one of India’s biggest skill-based gaming applications in India, it’s an honor for MPL to be associated with one of the biggest reality properties, Bigg Boss and we look forward to a great association.”

    Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, “Endemol Shine India has over the years broken multiple records with Bigg Boss! The show has established itself as India’s biggest reality program, one we are extremely proud of. Given the challenges that we have faced this year, we have taken every precaution possible when it comes to the health, safety, and sanitization of the cast and the crew. This season’s contestants will be required to be under quarantine for a period and will be tested before going inside the house. The theme of the show will also reflect in the elements of the house to give the contestants a feeling of normalcy. We look forward to furthering our long partnership with Colors and to yet another exciting new season.”

    Focusing on the campaign of the season – 'Ab paltega scene, kyunki Bigg Boss dega 2020 ko jawab’, the channel plans to go heavy on the digital front. From introducing a microsite featuring a wall of Bigg Boss memes and a UGC music video-based never seen before house reveal, it is going to be a delightful experience for the Bigg Boss fans. Adding to the many firsts will also be Facebook shorts, a new feature by the platform, and Bigg Boss audio tweets which will feature famous Bigg Boss dialogues. Bigg Boss video album will also be launched to capture the journey of the last seasons and take the viewers on a trip down the memory lane. Additionally, voice recognition and contextual ads will be used across different platforms to drive tune-ins. On the marketing front, high-frequency promotion on news, music, and regional channels will also be carried along with a huge burst of high-frequency promos for Bigg Boss not only on the network but across other channels as well. For OOH promotions, branded sanitizer dispensing units will be placed at residential societies in areas across Mumbai & Delhi NCR. Also, the channel will reach out to the larger Colors online fan base and Colors’ Golden Petal Club members through virtual events.

    While abiding by all the safety norms and guidelines issued by the government, the channel and production house are taking extreme care and necessary precautions for the contestants and crew members to promote a healthy work environment.  The contestants will undergo a mandatory 15-day quarantine after which they will be tested before they enter the house. The house and the peripheral area will be duly sanitized and fumigated to maintain safety and sterility. There will be regular temperature checks for the contestants and crew members apart from round the clock medical assistance. The same number of crew members will be retained for the season but they will be working in shifts so there is only the designated number of people on the sets. Special zones are being created for every department to keep direct contact to the minimum. Hand sanitizers will be installed at different points for easy access.

  • Viacom18’s Mahesh Shetty’s tips for sales teams & professionals

    Viacom18’s Mahesh Shetty’s tips for sales teams & professionals

    MUMBAI: Most management graduates harbour dreams of getting into a marketing job at one of the FMCG majors once they graduate. But if they have eyes on the corner office they would do well to get into sales, and not just be swayed by its more glamorous cousin, marketing. At least that’s the advice that Viacom18 network ad sales head Mahesh Shetty’s would like to give them. Says he: “Selling is core to any business. I think if you want to become the CEO of an organisation and you have done sales in the past you stand a better chance.”

    Shetty should know. He did the grind in sales at Pepsi, followed by marketing and then went back to sales. He then moved on to Radio Mirchi where he headed various sales functions before becoming the organisation’s COO. He was then hired to head a much larger organisation – Viacom18 network’s in the early part of 2019. 

    Read more news on Mahesh Shetty

    Shetty – whose key strengths lie in offering brand solutions to clients rather than just selling – says that working in sales for a substantial amount of time has many benefits. “Sales helps develop the right attitude and confidence in an individual,” he points out. “It improves communication skills and allows a person to know all aspects of the business right from selling the product, branding and marketing or dealing with the finance team at multiple levels.”

    Some of the key attributes and attitudes, he believes, sales people need to have include: be positive, be constantly hungry, always desire to do more, spot opportunities not just problems, every problem has an opportunity, read, learn,  and meet people.

    Elaborates Shetty: “Sales is not an usual eight hour job, it works round the clock. Meeting people and understanding brands is a very important part that helps. Before engaging with customers or clients it is important to equip ourselves with knowledge. It is important to have an intelligent conversation. Then, don't be dismayed if you don’t close a deal.  If there is one brand which has decided to not come on board then there are five other brands out there. It is important to find ways to excite them; this is what keeps me going day in and day out. Close to the year ending, if I am far from my numbers I will still have hope because there are many brands out there who want to grow their business and I have certain solutions which would help them to grow. That is my mantra.”

    According to Shetty, there are ways that organisations can hone the skill sets of sales people. 

    Watch virtual fireside chats with industry leaders

    Says he: “Large FMCG companies take you all around through sales, marketing, general management but many organisations still continue to keep sales people in the sales department. I think these companies lose the opportunity when they don’t move their best sales people into other departments because they lose the chance to create great leaders. I believe salespeople can do better in marketing as they have a good sense of the entire chain. They know what works with trade or distributors and they are also aware of what consumers want.”

    He also advocates that sales people need to get comfortable with data, for it can be a great lead generator as well as a deal maker. Says he: “Data gives you a lot of insights. I feel some of the sales people are not comfortable with data or pulling out the insights from the data. I want salespeople to understand that just don't get drowned in the data but try to remove key insights from the data.”

    Shetty admits that broadcasting is different from other direct to consumer businesses as sales people are selling products they create to an advertiser, whereas in other categories, the manufactured items are designed for the end consumer and sold to him or her.

    To do better at broadcast sales, executives need to have an open mind. “Accept the changing times. The pace with which digital is growing I believe broadcast sales people should have a good understanding of both television and digital,” he explains. “Television being so strong in the entire media pie, sales folks sometimes think that their job is just to sell FCT. But I think sales people need to broaden their horizons to learn all the things around them so that they can pitch the right solutions to the brand manager.  Because when you are going out and selling solutions, you could include brand integration or certain messaging driven by  social handles which would be more effective.”

    Read more news on Viacom18

    According to him, the pandemic induced social distancing has meant that physical meetings are few and far between.  And the pressure has come on sales to deliver now that economic activity is showing signs of reviving. “Everything has gone digital now,” says he. “The personal touch is something that will come back. Until then,  managers have to work to help his teams achieve what they want to do. At times it starts with opening doors with the client or helping them with the solutions, or closing the deal with the client. We are all under pressure but what's important is to focus our energies on getting a solution, and ourselves back.”

  • AltBalaji’s Manjit Sachdev joins Viacom18 to lead content for Voot & Voot Select

    AltBalaji’s Manjit Sachdev joins Viacom18 to lead content for Voot & Voot Select

    KOLKATA: Strengthening its creative team and focus on building an immersive and inclusive content strategy, Viacom18 has appointed Manjit Sachdev as content head for its leading video on demand brands Voot and Voot Select. 

    Sachdev, in her new role, will lead the content team at Voot and will be responsible for driving the future original content strategy across the advertising and subscription businesses of Voot and Voot Select.

    She will be aligned to Viacom18 Digital Venture COO Gourav Rakshi and work towards building further scale to the platform's diverse content portfolio.

    Viacom18 Digital Ventures COO Gourav Rakshi said, “Voot has successfully developed a unique approach to storytelling which has helped create a differentiated perception in the minds of our audiences. I am happy to welcome Manjit to the team to reinforce and further burnish this strategy and build on our current success with Voot & Voot Select. I am confident that her experience and  understanding of the nuances of storytelling, will further elevate the content experience on our platforms."

    Read more news on Voot

    Sachdev comes with over 18 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry. Prior to joining Viacom18 she has been successfully driving the content strategy at various brands in the M&E space like AltBalaji and Sony Entertainment. At AltBalaji she was responsible for leading the content pipeline for the platform across different genres. 

    Viacom18 has over the last few years built a formidable digital ecosystem that has gone on to emerge as one of the key thought leaders in the category. Sachdev's appointment as head content on Voot will add further depth to our future content strategy. 

  • Nickelodeon unveils its ninth indigenous animated IP ‘Ting Tong’

    Nickelodeon unveils its ninth indigenous animated IP ‘Ting Tong’

    MUMBAI: Every year, India’s premiere kids’ entertainment destination has introduced characters that are endearing and have gone on to emerge as icons amongst children across the country. The comic capers of Motu Patlu, the magic of Rudra, the adventures of Shiva and the mischiefs of the Golmaal Gang have all provided a fun and immersive entertainment experience that has made them a part of every child’s daily life. This continuous innovation, with kids and their entertainment needs at its core, has established Nickelodeon as the undisputed leader in the category for over six consecutive years. Post the success of its eight Ips, the leading franchise is all set to introduce kids to its original ninth IP – Ting Tong. Adding further depth and scale to the brands diverse content portfolio, the seven-minute animated show – Ting Tong will bring alive short, snacky and exciting drama for kids that is sure to provide unparalleled comedy. The show will air starting 28 September at 9 am only on Sonic. 

    Ting Tong promises to be a fast-paced and high-octane comic rollercoaster. The series is a spin-off created around a character named Ting Tong from the popular Nickelodeon original series- Gattu Battu. The show revolves around the daily adventures of fun and lovable character who suffers from the regular and temporary loss of memory, each time transforming into the character (person or animal) he sees before him.  Comically catching the bad guys and accidentally becoming the hero of the town adds to the humor quotient of the show.  Ting Tong along with his adorable pet and companion Meeru and the local goons Single Dose and Double Dose set the stage for a laugh riot in this comic caper. 

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “Nickelodeon has consistently created winning original IPs, all of which are chart toppers in the genre and continue to get immense love from our young viewers. Creating immersive content for kids is at the core of all our initiatives. Current challenges notwithstanding, we continue to invest in content and have been relentlessly creating memorable content and category pioneering experiences for kids. The new IP Ting Tong is our ninth local IP in nine years and is yet another endearing character that is sure to create a bond with kids across the country.”

    Viacom18 content and research, kids TV network creative head Anu Sikka said, “Storytelling and relatability of characters is most important in building affinity and resonance amongst kids. It is this focus on storytelling that has helped us create characters like Shiva, Rudra, and others that kids adore and have emerged as runaway successes. Ting Tong is our first foray/attempt in creating a spin-off from our popular show, Gattu Battu. We believe that the show with its unique concept and goofiness is sure to entertain kids and offer short and snacky comic respite which they will love.” 

    The franchise’s ninth IP Ting Tong will see a highly engaging and innovative marketing and communication plan. Pivoting the media mix to the new normal, the campaign will leave no stone unturned in reaching out to kids through all possible screens. From high rotation on-air promotions on the Nickelodeon franchise channels and a robust digital plan across the Nickelodeon franchise social media and digital platforms, Ting Tong will be promoted extensively to bring a smile on every kids’ face. The relevant Viacom18 network social media platforms including Voot Kids would also support the launch. Tapping into YouTube with initiatives like the skip button innovation & social media platforms like FB & IG, be on the lookout for numerous clutter-breaking social media engagements. A peppy music video that will showcase the whacky spirit of Ting Tong would be showcased on social, YouTube and music streaming platforms like Gaana.com & Jio Saavn. Further adding to the experience will be fun Ting Tong inspired digital games to transport kids into a world of escape. With this path-breaking and innovative campaign, Ting Tong will be established as the quirky and unique character that he is! 

    Nickelodeon today boasts of the largest and most diverse original content library in the genre. The franchise, despite the current challenges, has been scaling up its content line-up through fresh episodes and movies of existing shows. The channel has recently announced its collaboration with Nick International to co-produce the animated series The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj. The market leader over the last six years has consistently pushed the envelope on innovation by launching shows that cater to the discerning needs of the young viewers. The new show from Nickelodeon Ting Tong is another addition to its interesting content slate and is sure to up the engagement with kids. 

  • Voot Select reveals its sixth original – Crackdown

    Voot Select reveals its sixth original – Crackdown

    KOLKATA: Voot Select is all set to reveal their latest Original – Crackdown.  Home to critically acclaimed shows like Asur, Raikar Case, The Gone Game, Voot Select will now have ace Bollywood director Apoorva Lakhia making his directorial web debut with this action-packed espionage thriller. Crackdown boasts of a fantastic ensemble cast including Saqib Saleem, Iqbal Khan, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Waluscha De Sousa, Rajesh Tailang, and Ankur Bhatia amongst others. The eight-part series goes live on Voot Select on 23 September 2020.

    A slick, high-octane thriller, Crackdown, revolves around a covert operations wing that tries to crack through multiple smaller decoys, to uncover a larger conspiracy that threatens national security. In the process, they find an able ally in a girl whose identity remains a mystery. As seen in the trailer, B-town was buzzing with excitement as the first look of the show that was announced by none other than Superstar and the ‘Shehenshah’ of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan. Brimming with high octane action sequences, powerful visuals, and a spectacular cast, Crackdown boasts of the grandeur and scale that Apoorva Lakhia’s directorial web debut one would expect will offer.

    Read more news on Voot Select

    Voot Select, Viacom18 youth, music, and english entertainment head Ferzad Palia said, “Voot Select has in a very short span of time, become synonymous with great quality Originals and curated content. Now we are all set and extremely excited to launch our sixth Original – Crackdown. Apoorva is known to make the most stylish and slick thrillers and has created magic with what he has done in the show Crackdown. It’s an edge of the seat thriller with lots of action which is sure to be nothing short of a big Bollywood blockbuster experience brought to the OTT world.”

    Apoorva Lakhia said, "I have always loved making action thrillers. It gives me an adrenaline rush just being a part of those sequences and locations. Needless to say, when I read the script written by Chintan Gandhi and Suresh Nair, I was extremely excited. The storyline is great, its action-packed, with great locations and a stellar cast and it is going to stream on one of the biggest digital platforms in the country, Voot Select. What more can one need? Although this is my directorial debut for an OTT platform, the treatment of Crackdown is exactly like a Bollywood blockbuster and I am sure the audience is going to love it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

    Gunshots, chase sequences, blasts, and the constant hand combat, Crackdown is packed with all the right elements that should put it on the top of your binge-watch list. 

  • Leadership secrets & wisdom from Viacom18

    Leadership secrets & wisdom from Viacom18

    MUMBAI: A few months ago,  during the thick of the lockdown due to the pandemic, Viacom18 CEO Sudhanshu Vats announced that he was moving on from the organisation he led for around eight years. Earlier, in 2019, his deputy COO Raj Nayak too departed from a company he was associated with for seven years. Both  the leaders have left a long-lasting impact on Viacom18. And especially the senior team which is currently being led by the new CEO Rahul Joshi, who also heads the news operations under TV18.

    In a fireside chat with Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO & editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari last week, Viacom18 network head of ad sales Mahesh Shetty recalled the days when he had an opportunity to work with both  Raj Nayak and Sudhanshu Vats and his bond with his current CEO Rahul Joshi. And he shared the leadership and management styles of the two senior execs. 

    Watch the virtual fireside chat with Mahesh Shetty

    “I have huge respect for Raj Nayak. He is a maverick sales guy, and an amazing person. It was big shoes to fill in. I have done deals with him in the past when I worked at Radio Mirchi for Mirchi Music Award that used to come on Colors. He is someone who enjoys huge respect in media and entertainment industry,” Shetty shared during his conversation…

    Shetty was hired by Vats to look after ad sales and revenue for the whole network – both regional and Hindi channels. “Raj was COO and he looked after direct sales for Colors,” said Shetty. “He built and left behind a fabulous sales team. There is not much of a change that has happened in it. It is not like that the new leaders have come in and they have changed the entire team, most of the team leaders are the same.”

    He further highlighted that Raj had this attitude to think scale, to think big in sales efforts. “It is a great legacy that Nayak has left behind. The team is aware of the fact that they are selling big impact properties. So, I don’t have to go out and tell the teams how to sell.”

    Read more news on Raj Nayak

    Recently, long-timer Simran Hoon stepped down from her role as Viacom18 EVP and ad sales head after nearly 13 years with the organisation.

     “I don't have control over things which are above me,” said Shetty referring to Vats’ exit a few months ago. “But it’s to his credit that he handled my hiring the way he did. And how he kept the morale at the company high, during the tough times. The fact is that if you look at the past 18 months there are not too many exits. All the key people are there in the company.  it is a journey that all of us as a team have gone through. We all have tough times,” he shared.

    He has been focused on building and strengthening the sales team, getting their trust, and bringing in processes and data mining and management into the sales efforts. Said he: “I think I have a job and a challenge at hand. My boss (Rahul Joshi) is a person who helps me in this journey, Rahul is also great person, he has a different kind of experience than what Sudhanshu Vats had. The last six months with him have s been good.”

    He further added, “Both Sudhanshu Vats and Rahul Joshi are managers who let you build and drive your own strategies. Because then the onus is on you to deliver and it’s not like you can put your monkey on your boss’ back.”

  • Sapangeet Rajwant and the art of building Bigg Boss 14

    Sapangeet Rajwant and the art of building Bigg Boss 14

    Bigg Boss is all set to return to the television with its season 14 starting 3 October 2020. The show commands a massive loyal audience that loves to watch the participants locked in the house. Every year, when it launches on the Hindi general entertainment channel, Colors, there is a lot of chatter around the show, its host – Salman Khan, the participants, politics, fun, fights and a lot of other things. There is no doubt that Bigg Boss  has been earning loyal sponsors and huge earned media year-on-year for the network. As a result, the teams at Viacom18 are putting their entire might to make it even more entertaining and exciting for the audiences. 

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment brand solutions, marketing & digital head Sapangeet Rajwant says, “Bigg Boss is one show that over the years has brought the viewers together and been the most sought after entertainment reality show. But the pandemic has bought a change in consumer sentiment wherein they’ve made a seamless transition to digital mediums. Digital is the most growing medium, I think marketing, therefore, will be redefined.  We would now look at investing in the right places to ensure the mediums we choose hereon are more effective and collaborative.”

    Rajwant should know. She has been at the forefront of building the Bigg Boss brand over the years through effective promotions across media, right from print to on-ground to digital to television. Given that, the show is a tentpole high impact property for the Colors, no efforts are being spared to continue pushing and promoting just like in previous years. A major blitz with budgets at the same level as last year is planned.

    Indiantelevision.com’s Shikha Singh got into a converation with the savvy marketer to get insights into what’s planned for this season. Excerpts from the conversation:

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    What is the marketing strategy for Bigg Boss this year?

    Bigg Boss has a magnetic appeal for brands and marketers alike. Due to the huge fan following and the constant chatter that is there about the show, the brands look forward to associating with the show. The show because of its mass appeal is usually talked about on a daily basis. Hence from a marketing standpoint, the idea is to build the campaign and create conversations. This year though, we have tweaked our marketing strategy as owing to the pandemic there are a few mediums that have become redundant and therefore focus has been more on television and online. 

    We are relying specifically on television heavily as it is one medium that has stood the test of time throughout this lockdown and the viewership has only grown in the past few months. Fortunately for us, Viacom18’s network channels have great strength and it provides us conversions across genres. We will also be going outside the network and tapping different news, movie, and music channels to create awareness about the tune in time of the show. We aim to generate a lot of content in the online space on social media and have planned innovations that you will witness soon. We will also look at tier 1 and tier 2 cities for print advertising in editorial format.

    What was the thought behind the Bigg Boss campaign?

    Bigg Boss is a cult show that has a massive and loyal following. The show has grown year-on-year and the last season of Bigg Boss broke viewership records both on television and online. The year 2020 has been the most trying and difficult year for humanity in the recent past.  Hence, we had to come up with a theme that could give a befitting response to 2020 and announce the return of the show- ‘Ab scene paltega, kyunki Bigg Boss dega 2020 ko jawaab’. With everyone looking eagerly towards the first rays of a restart and television being a surreal medium that helps you find an escape, the viewers will get a chance to witness things that they deprived of this year- A theater, spa, mall etc in the Bigg Boss house. It will be a peek into what a ‘regular’ life looks like. A welcome change to the past year; it’s bound to change the scene in every household when it comes on their television sets.

    Due to the pandemic the on-ground activities are halted, so how are you planning to engage with the viewers?

    The lockdown has put restrictions on on-ground events and activations but on the other hand, we have also seen a surge in television viewership and digital platform consumption. We will be focusing our energies and investing in television and digital mediums for a greater ROI and measurability. A lot of programmatic buying happens on digital and on TV too and we will continue to do it.

    Most importantly, is the marketing budget for Bigg Boss similar, increased or reduced as compared to the previous year?

    We have not made budget cuts for our marketing but we are focusing on optimizing it. For the new season, we will be restricting the use of mediums but we will channelise our energies into planning creative engagement ideas. Rather than reaching out to five different mediums, we will probably stick to only one or two mediums but you will see heavier buzz and bigger innovation. We don’t want to compromise on the reach and frequency and that remains our focus.

    How are you going to promote the show on TV?

    When we look at the last few months, television is the only medium that has remained steady and it has been the biggest driver for all the broadcasters. It is the only medium that not only gives you the desired reach but also conversion and effectiveness for the campaign. Hence, television is going to be the primary medium in all the campaigns. As I have mentioned earlier,  Viacom18 has a huge network strength and it provides us with a large range of channels across genres and delivers higher conversions due to affinity. Having said that, we will also go to non-network channels to see where we get incremental audiences. We will be doing huge bursts of our promos across channels.

    Coming to digital, what is your individual plan for each platform like Youtube, Facebook, Instagram? For example, are you looking at buying a mast-head on YouTube, or how you have partnered with AliveNow to launch an immersive Instagram AR filter for Bigg Boss? Will you be using the same technology this year?

    The primary aim is to be innovative and engage with the audience across platforms and hence we have customized strategies for each platform. For example, Facebook and Instagram are more viable and have a large user base. We are planning to leverage all its features like polls, reels, Q&A, stories, IGTV, etc. to dish out short bursts of snackable content in fun and creative ways that encourage two-way communication and engagement. On the other hand, we are also planning a pure video consumption-led YouTube feature for longer video pieces like mashups, contestant journeys, music videos etc. However, there are also times when we may use both together for a live stream simulcast as well. On Twitter, sparking debates, holding celebrity AMAs, asking people’s opinions and engaging with fan clubs using exclusive content works the best.  So it’s all about continuously trying different approaches and we will be using each of them.

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    Will you be collaborating with any influencers?

    A show like Bigg Boss has such mass appeal that in every household, there will be at least one individual rooting for the show. In this case, in every household, there is an influencer and they help us drive conversations about the show. Having said that the contestants of the Bigg Boss from the last season or the contestants from the current season act as brand endorsers. Moreover, the fan clubs and viewer base can be equated to an influencer and they automatically generate a lot of hashtag and short format videos that help us drive our campaign.

    Will you be using old Bigg Boss moments, winning spots or making of the show as a promotional strategy?

    Definitely. Bigg Boss is one of the most popular reality TV properties with massive amounts of conversations, debates, and points of view being put across by fans and celebrities regularly. So yes, leveraging past moments is always a strong pillar of our digital campaign strategy and one that has always worked terrifically for us. Simply put, the show is about real people – and people identify and relate with it – making them extremely passionate about the show. Probably this is why you will see the show trend on Twitter organically almost daily when on-air.

    IPL is doing heavy promotions across all platforms, whereas Bigg Boss has just started its marketing and promotional activity, how much do you think you will be able to make space for yourself in terms of creating buzz?

    Both IPL and Bigg Boss are huge and most anticipated properties. Last year we reached out to some 213 million audiences on the back of just the announcement of the show. This year, when people are deprived of entertainment, there will be more people flocking in to watch the show. We have started the conversation of Bigg Boss from August and both the properties have their own fan base. Having said that, there will be a very minimal clash between both the properties as  Bigg Boss on weekdays starts at 10:30 pm and IPL starts at 7:30 pm making the overlap of only 10 per cent.

  • Bigg Boss 14: The brand countdown has begun

    Bigg Boss 14: The brand countdown has begun

    MUMBAI: A century. That’s what Viacom18 head of network sales Mahesh Shetty is hoping to hit with the fourteenth edition of celebrity reality show Bigg Boss. “It will be great if we manage to hit last year’s 100 advertiser landmark we did with the show,” says Shetty.

    Recently, the sales team once again signed on Capital Foods Ching’s Secret as an associate sponsor for the show. It already has e-sports and mobile gaming league platform MPL as presenting sponsor, while Dabur Dant Rakshak Ayurvedic Paste and HUL’s Tresseme have come on as co-powered by sponsors.

    It looks like Shetty has his work cut out for him with only around a fortnight to go before the show starts filming in Mumbai’s Film City on 3 October. However, he is confident that the sponsorship and advertising contracts will start rolling in faster now.

    Says he: “It’s not that this is the first time the team that is selling Bigg Boss is facing environmental pressure. At some point of time there was demonetization followed by GST, which created huge pressure on the economy. The feedback that we got from brands who wanted to associate with us has been phenomenal. I’ll give the credit to the equity of Bigg Boss and to my team also.. I am very optimistic about this season as well. We are expecting the same traction this year itself.”

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    He further explains why he is not worried. Says Shetty: “There are certain brands who come on board for the entire season while others come only for half-season. Some of our key brands have been associated with us since the last season. We have 106 episodes, so there are many brands who wish to come in the later part of the show. Apart from that a lot of revenue comes from the Free Commercial Times (FCT).”

    He has no regrets that he has pegged the advertising and sponsorship rates at least year’s levels when Star Sports has managed to command higher pricing for its IPL inventory than last year. Explains Shetty: “It is not a short-term relationship as some brands also come back. We have kept similar rates as last year because Bigg Boss is a 106-day property. At the end of the day, it is a demand-supply game.“

    He is hopeful that Bigg Boss this year will be able to command higher sticker prices than the Rs 300,000-350,000 per 10 second spot that it did last year. “Depending on how the property performs and demand-supply it creates, we will look at increasing the prices. When the show starts and if the demand is very good, we will definitely hike the prices,” he says.

    Shetty’s opinion is that very platforms can offer the brand integration that Bigg Boss does.”I don’t think there is any property like Bigg Boss when it comes to brand integration and brand engagement. The show not only gives them a wide visibility and reach, but helps them connect with the end consumer,” says he. “We engage very deeply with brand owners, and not just with the agency. Every integration of ours is something that we kind of take them through, also at the same time our programming team, people who run the show are very well equipped and experienced.

    Shetty points out to how last year presenting sponsor Vivo used the platform to showcase the video features of its brand new phone the V17 Pro. For Dabur, the programming team innovated by enrolling contestants of season 13 – Shehnaz Gill, Madhurima Tuli, Rashmi Desai, Mahira Sharma, and Shefali Bagga to promote Dabur Amla Hair Oil while walking the ramp after they were tasked by Salman Khan to do so. Shefali Zairwala and Aarti Singh became the hair stylists for the ramp walkers. Siddharth Shukla, the ultimate winner of the season, and Asim were the judges and chose Shehnaz Gill as the winner. “Again, it was very entertaining and brands’ core values got communicated. It is something you will see again this year,” says Shetty.

    He is quite emphatic that advertisers will hitch themselves to the Bigg Boss bandwagon. “Today, if there is so much traction for IPL, it is because there isn’t anything like IPL. In the same way, I would say there is nothing really like Bigg Boss. It’s not just another property,” he says. “It starts on 3 October goes on all the way till January 2021. It covers all the key festivals from Dussehra to Diwali, Christmas, New Year, and Sankranti. In terms of consumer spending, this entire period is a big chunk as far as consumer spending goes. So brands would want to latch upon the properties like Bigg Boss.”