ITV

Tag: Viacom18

  • The puzzling case of TRAI’s ad cap

    The puzzling case of TRAI’s ad cap

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) found some unlikely supporters on the ad cap issue last week. On the one hand, Zee Entertainment, Star India and Viacom18 approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) saying that they were in favour of a limit to how much advertising should be allowed per hour and that they would like to become respondents to the cases filed by other broadcasters. Among these figure the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), regional and music channels all of whom have been opposing the regulation and have sought relief from the tribunal. The other supporter of the ad cap is an NGO called MediaWatch which said the ad cap should be extended to cable TV also and that TRAI should also ensure that broadcasters don’t cross the line on audio levels of commercials and also specialised ad formats on the TV screen.

    Though the intervention filed by Zee, Star India and Viacom18 was rejected in the hearing that took place on 31 October, the tribunal has asked the networks to file a separate application, which would be heard only after the main case filed by NBA, music and regional channels, the next court hearing for which is 11 November.

    “Well! We had filed for an intervention which was postponed,” is what Star India president and general counsel – legal and regulatory affairs Deepak Jacob said when Indiantelevision.com contacted him to enquire more about the case. However, he refused to divulge any more on the matter.

    The three mainline Hindi GECs have been following the 10+2 ad cap regulation since 1 October, which was the deadline set by TRAI.

    Industry watchers are asking what is it that made the three networks come out so blatantly in support of the ad cap when fourth network Sony Entertainment has not been following the TRAI diktat at all?

    “They are in a position of strength as they have a tremendous share of viewer eyeballs,” says a media observer. “Hence, they can afford to take a hard stance in favour of the ad cap. Their belief is that advertisers have no alternative but to advertise on their channels. Their following the ad cap allowed them to jack up air time rates which more than made up for the drop in inventory. They would ideally like the status quo of lower advertising time to continue as it has benefited them and will continue to benefit them because paucity will result in better yields and rates.”

    Another media observer believes that the approaches that the leading GECs have taken will add to the chaos and confusion. “The TV broadcast industry seems to have learnt very well how to stall any disruptive regulatory changes,” says a media planner laughingly. “You have several opposing and pro-voices speaking up at the same time which tends to lead to policy paralysis.”

    She elaborates: “On the one side, the advertisers, agencies, news broadcasters, music channels and niche channels are against the TRAI ad cap. One of the major networks are also opposing it; while the other three are showing that they want it. It will be tough for anyone to decide which direction should things move. If the ad cap is on – in an election year – the news channels will take umbrage and the government cannot afford to have a negative fallout in an election year. If the ad cap is stalled for a while, that is good for everyone: the leading GECs have already got rate hikes of some sort; Sony can join in and hike rates and finally the news channels will not be faced with shriveling air time revenues. So they will be happy.”

    “We are also taking a leadership position by complying with the TRAI regulations,” says an executive with one of the three networks. “We believe the time for change on TV advertising is now and hence are supporting it.”

    What move will the telecom industry’s conscience – the TDSAT – and the regulator – TRAI- make next? Our guess is as good as any, but the ad cap game play is surely beginning to resemble a very complicated game of chess.

  • Ad cap petitions adjourned till 11 November

    Ad cap petitions adjourned till 11 November

    NEW DELHI: The case challenging the adcap regulations sought to be implemented on television channels was today adjourned to 11 November by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

    TDSAT Chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh also rejected the interventions filed by Zee, Star and Viacom18, with the Tribunal asking them to file separate applications.

    The News Broadcasters Association had moved TDSAT challenging the constitutional validity of the regulations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India enforcing the ad cap.

    Several other broadcasters – mostly general entertainment channels – had later moved TDSAT, but the Tribunal had in 30 August accepted the argument by NBA that the cases of the general entertainment channels could not be clubbed with the petition of NBA.

     The news channels are seeking relief from the 10+2 ad cap regulation prescribed by TRAI.

    Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of the NBA sought time as the pleadings were not ready.

    Some regional channels from Kerala also wanted to intervene as petitioners, but TDSAT said their matter would be heard after the main hearing.

    Channels that sought to move to the court today included 9X, B4U, TV Vision and Pioneer Channel Factory of Mumbai, Sun TV Network of Chennai, E24 Glamour, Polimer Media, Reliance Big Network, Eenadu TV, Sarthak Entertainment and Raj TV.

    Later, some general entertainment channels including music channels had also approached TDSAT in various petitions and the Tribunal had decided to hear these matters after the NBA matter.

    Counsel for TRAI said that an anomalous situation had been created with some channels having accepted the adcap with effect from 1 October. It was therefore requested that the matter be resolved once for all.

    Meanwhile, TRAI had been forbidden on 30 August from taking any ‘coercive action’ against news channels who are not abiding by the agreement relating to advertisement time on news channels.

    The Tribunal also said that while the news channels will maintain weekly records of the advertising time per hour on a weekly basis, they will not be required to submit this to the regulator as being done at present and will only submit these to TDSAT at the hearing of the case.

    Counsel for the NBA A J Bhambani had said on 30 August that a delegation of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation had submitted a formula to the regulator but that did not preclude the broadcasters from challenging the validity of the Regulations. He also said that this was only a compromise reached between the broadcasters and the regulator and could not form the basis of penal action since it was not a regulation or legal provision. He had added that there were many members who were common to both the IBF and the NBA, and therefore the IBF had submitted a ‘proposal’ on 29 May this year, which the TRAI accepted. But this could not be construed as a regulation.

    Even otherwise, he argued that TRAI was only empowered by its own Act to make ‘recommendations’ on issues like advertisements and not bring about or enforce regulations and resort to prosecution.

    When the law was invoked by the Authority in May 2012, it was disputed by television broadcasters which had also challenged the jurisdiction of TRAI in this regard before the Tribunal.

  • Kangana shares her wedding jitters in Queens teaser

    Kangana shares her wedding jitters in Queens teaser

    MUMBAI: Content plays a key role while promoting any film. Keeping that in mind, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has presented an innovative teaser to promote their upcoming movie Queen, starring Kangana Ranaut.

     

    The teaser stands out from a traditional one-minute glimpse into the entire film. Queen’s teaser has Kangana addressing the viewers, asking them for tips for her honeymoon, in an endearing, coy manner. Kangana plays the role of ‘Rani’ in the film, a shy bride-to-be who shares her wedding-jitters in the teaser.

     

    Kangana’s character has developed an instant connect with the audience, with the teaser going viral and viewers loving the personal approach adopted by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, to present the teaser. There’s a strong word-of-mouth doing the rounds as viewers have been sharing the teaser link on all social platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp.

     

    A strong character, a flawless actor and a powerful script well presented with simplicity has resulted into a clutter breaking Bollywood teaser. Says Viacom18 Motion Pictures head of marketing Rudrarup Datta in a release: “Our objective is to make the audience love Rani for what she is. A simple innocent girl, who will win your heart with her honesty. The teaser is the first step towards that, which not only gets your attention but also compels you to engage. We are thrilled with the response to the teaser which will now lead into the main theatrical trailer for the film.”

    Going by the initial audience response, the idea certainly seems to work for the film. Queen, directed by Vikas Bahl and produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures is scheduled for release on 28 February, 2014.

  • Comedy Centrals destruct-o-matic lets you vent out your anger

    Comedy Centrals destruct-o-matic lets you vent out your anger

    MUMBAI: Comedy Central has played a pivotal role in bringing some of the biggest American sitcoms to India. Earlier in February, the channel premiered the biggest and most anticipated sitcom of the year – Anger Management. The show broke cable TV records in America, making it the most-watched series of all time. The show opened to a crazy frenzy in India as well with fans asking for more of the protagonist – Charlie Sheen.

    Keeping this frenzy in mind, the channel decided to take the success of the show beyond television by presenting viewers with a digital application, The ‘Destruct-O-Matic’ – a one of its kind application – will be launched on Facebook and Twitter today.

    The Destruct-O-Matic is a Mechanical Machine, which allows users to vent their anger and frustration, on a scapegoat that can take it, instead of at each other. Users are given a list of seven methods they can employ to take out their frustration on a dummy on-screen. The user will be able to see the effect of his actions in real time on his screen. There is a live-feed of the Destruct-O-Matic on a microsite, which users can interact with. Each of the vent-actions are activated via tweets or posts on Twitter or Facebook, by visiting the Destruct-O-Matic microsite and logging in via a social networking sign in.

    Speaking on the launch of the ‘Destruct-O-Matic’ application, Viacom18 English Entertainment Sr. VP and GM Ferzad Palia said, “At Comedy Central, it is our constant endeavour to not only offer our viewers the best of comedy available across the globe but to also provide them with entertainment beyond television. Keeping up with the ever rising interaction levels of our TG in the digital domain, we decided to take the Anger Management experience further.  The launch of Destruct-O-Matic will see users venting their anger on digital platforms rather than in public, in a fun, witty and healthy way! I am sure our fans will be absolutely delighted to engage with the ‘Destruct-O-Matic’ and have fun while venting their anger.”

    The activity gives users a chance to take out their grudges on their friends by tagging them in their posts or mentioning them in their tweets. The excitement level increases as Comedy Central is set to short-list 10 of the wittiest, weirdest and most outrageous rationalisation for a ‘vent’. Shortlisted users will win comedy central merchandise.

    Comedy Central continues to air Anger Management with a new episode just 24 hours after US telecast- every Friday at 10:00 pm.

  • MTV makes music, again

    MTV makes music, again

    MUMBAI: While it counts as the oldest music television network in Asia and the one brand that has always stood for all things youth, MTV India, Viacom18’s youth entertainment channel, is not one to rest on its laurels.

     

    And so, in a bid to add an exciting new dimension to its youth connect as much as stay ahead in an already cluttered space, the channel has, in collaboration with Soundlogic, an American gadget major that set shop in India two years ago, and Croma, launched a range of music accessories under the flagship brand, MTV Fashiontronix.

     

    The accessories including trendy earphones, Bluetooth ear buds and many more will be exclusively available at Croma stores across the country and on its website.

     

    Speaking on the launch, Viacom 18 senior VP consumer products Saugato Bhowmik said: “We believe in catering to the youngsters and only want to expand our horizons across categories which cater to our thought process, be it related to fashion, gadgets, Bollywood etc.”

     

    About the tie-up with MTV, Soundlogic director Sagar Gwallani said: “After the successful response we got here, we thought of enhancing our reach more among the youngsters. Hence, we collaborated with MTV because of its popularity among the youth and its digital following. The combination of our technical bandwidth along with the channel’s creative edge in the market will help us achieve our goal.”

     

    On the collaboration, Infiniti Retail CEO & managing director Ajit Joshi said: “We sell products like JVL and Bose but today, youngsters want music on the go. It is a religion for them. And when we got an opportunity to address the needs of the youth of the country, we were glad to be part of it.”

     

    MTV will market the new product range through its digital space. “Where do youngsters hangout? It’s cafes, colleges and are always on the digital platform. Apart from us, Croma too will be supporting us on its digital space,” informed Bhowmik, adding that the channel is in the planning stage of launching a marketing plan on its sister channels. “We have all the edge at our disposal and we will be utilizing our sister channels in the future,” he said.

     

    Meanwhile, Joshi opined that the range, priced between Rs 899 and Rs 3999, doesn’t really need marketing as he could predict it would fly off the shelves as soon as youngsters got their hands on it.

  • Game of Tunes The Revolution Begins!

    Game of Tunes The Revolution Begins!

    MUMBAI: Music has always been an integral part of our lives, be it iPods, mobile phones, radio or even laptops…music always follows wherever we go! Giving fans an exciting new experience, Viacom 18 and Vh1 is all set to launch a rhythm based mobile game for its fans, one of the first for any music channel in the country. Available on Apple and Android phones and tablets, the gaming app which will be launched earlier next year will feature fresh, never heard before pieces of music that would play in the background and add power to the game. Making their fans an integral part in the development of this new app, Vh1 will be conducting a contest – ‘Game of Tunes’.

    The leading English music channel is calling out to some of the most talented independent DJs and musicians in the country who have worked on some original compositions in the electronic music genre, to be a part of this app. From all entries received, some artists and independent musicians will be selected to be a part of the game. Their music will power the game and the best bit; they will retain all rights to their music and will be credited for the same. The selected contestant’s original piece of music featured in the game would reach out to all gamers across the globe. Starting from November 23rd 2013, the ‘Game of Tunes’ will run for a 14 days, after which all the entries will be evaluated and the winners will be intimated for the further proceedings.

    Commenting on this innovative initiative, Rajneel Kumar – VP & Business Head- Digital Media, Viacom18 says, “This platform is to bring out fresh talent in the country and give them a chance to showcase their work. The gaming app being developed would attract a lot of audience across the world and the music would play a very crucial role in bringing the game alive. We really look forward to collaborating with some of the most talented musicians in India on this innovative project.”

    So if you love music and are also a gaming freak then here is your chance…be a part of the contest and showcase your talent to the world. Your music would then be just a click away!
    – Log on to http://www.vh1.in/gameoftunes and participate!

  • Colors sister channel Rishtey hikes ad rates

    Colors sister channel Rishtey hikes ad rates

    MUMBAI: Just over a year old and Rishtey – Viacom18’s free-to-air (FTA) channel in the UK – has taken the bold step of hiking its ad rates. Since Diwali, the channel that airs re-runs of Colors’ shows, a Pakistani series called Humsafar and some amount of original programming, has upped ad rates to double what they were at the beginning of the year, courtesy high demand and increased ratings.

     

    According to BARB ratings, Rishtey, which turned one this September, stood fifth in the Asian channels’ chart with 696000 while Colors came a close sixth with 624000.

     

    Indiacast business head (UK and Europe) Govind Shahi, says, “In the last 12 months, Rishtey has been constantly growing in term of eyeballs and is currently in demand by all brands that want to be seen by an ethnic audience. We are facing a situation where the demand is far outpacing the supply. Given the performance of the channel, which has more than doubled in terms of ratings and the demand supply chain, we thought it was the right time to go for a price hike.”

     

    While this is Rishtey’s first ad rate hike, the new rates will be applicable only to new customers with existing contracts remaining unaffected.

     

    Shahi is confident of the channel remaining on the upper side of the highest ad revenues for the year and says: “We are by far the number one South Asian FTA channel in the UK. Even at an overall level (FTA +Pay), we will end the year among the top two in terms of ad revenues. In fact, just in the last week, it has challenged the market leader in prime time slots a couple of times, which is a testimony of the success.”

     

    When it comes to the shows, Rishtey claims Parichay and Laagi Tujhse Lagan have been high performers in the past two weeks.

     

    According to industry sources, a prime time 30 second slot on Rishtey could go up to ?600 (Rs 61,105) for a mainstream advertiser depending on the ratings, while it could go up to ?100 (Rs 10,165) for an ethnic advertiser. As it is, a 30 second slot on the Bigg Boss finale is seeing heights of ?250 (Rs 25,460) from ethnic advertisers.

     

    With mainstream advertisers including Diagio, Cadbury, BT, Boots and Asda and ethnic ones such as Tilda Rice, Southall Travel, East End foods, Lycamobile, DBS Law and Westmill foods, Shahi exults: “We have the entire gamut- from FMCG to supermarkets to finance/banks to charities.”

  • Sonia Huria to handle entire Viacom18s communications

    Sonia Huria to handle entire Viacom18s communications

    MUMBAI: After being vacant for almost four months, the position of Viacom18’s corporate communications head is being filled up. The position had been vacant after Sandeep Dahiya decided to move on from the company. Now, Sonia Huria, who was serving as the Colors corporate communications head, will head all the communication and PR functions for Viacom18.

     

    In her new role, she will be handling the communications for all the Viacom18’s broadcast channels including Colors, the ETV channels it recently acquired, VH1, MTV, Nickelodeon, Sonic Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. She will also handle Viacom18’s motion pictures as well as allied functions like consumer products INS and digital. Her appointment is effective from today, 25 November, and she will report directly to Viacom18 Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats.

     

    “Work has already piled up. The entire Viacom18 is getting into the regional market and I will do my best to deliver the message of one Viacom18,” says Huria.

  • Somethings fishy!

    Somethings fishy!

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures brings to its audiences a rip roaring comedy What The Fish, this December, set in a Delhi house which is left empty apart from Mishti the fish when ‘Masi’ (the evergreen Dimple Kapadia) goes on a trip, leaving it to the niece. Starting with a crazy party the house becomes a center for some hilarious activity. Manu Rishi, Manjot Singh and Anand Tewari join the act with the unique comic timing.

     

    Directed by Gurmmeet Singh the film is co-produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Lightform Pictures Production and presented by Tipping Point Films.

     

    Known for creating a buzz with their unique and innovative ways to promote a film, the producers have a lot of context to do so with this particular venture taking a hint from some of the bizarre items which make an appearance in the movie (condoms, a joint, mardangi ki goliyaan to name a few).

     

    Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has sent across a fish-bowl package to various trade organisations, media houses, celebrities, twitter/digital influencers and radio jockeys; and this doesn’t end here – even Mumbai with its rickshaw-walla’s, and not to forget the machliwali’s and various commoners have been plastered with the curious case of a fancy fish bowl literally making the city go – What The Fish!

     

    “WTF is the most hilarious comedy that you are going to see in a while. The sheer craziness of the happenings in the film though entirely situational makes it unmissable. The movie demanded that we go beyond the cliché and create some ‘comic curiosity ‘ to brace audiences,” said Viacom18 Motion Pictures head of marketing & operations Rudrarup Datta.

    What The Fish is set for release on 13 December.

  • The TRAI, TDSAT and the ad cap story: Waiting for Godot?

    The TRAI, TDSAT and the ad cap story: Waiting for Godot?

    So everyone has bought themselves some more time. The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) decided to postpone till 11 November the date of hearing for the 10+2 ad cap case filed by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), music channels as well as the regional channels on grounds of lack of information. The extra fortnight gave it more days to ruminate over what has clearly proved to be a major thorn in almost everyone’s side whether it is the government or broadcasters or agencies or advertisers.

     

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) started it all when under the quality of services rules it decided to force broadcasters to limit commercial air time to 12 minutes per hour a year or so ago. The decision was postponed and rolled over until mid-2013 when it decided enough is enough and passed an order which would see general entertainment channels first reduce advertising airtime to 16 minutes per hour, while the news channels were to cut it down to 20 minutes per hour from 1 July till 30 September. Following this, the GECs from 1 October had to reduce the advertising airtime to 12 minutes per hour and the news channels to 16 minutes per hour.

     

    The decision was postponed and rolled over until mid-2013 when it decided enough is enough and passed an order which would see general entertainment channels first reduce advertising airtime to 16 minutes per hour, while the news channels were to cut it down to 20 minutes per hour from 1 July till 30 September.
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    Broadcasters – especially the news one – saw red instantly and screamed as if their life was being squeezed out of them. They obviously did not think about the viewer who was at times being inundated with almost 30 minutes or more of ads on TV to watch news. They went ahead and appealed to the TDSAT that what was being called for was draconian and unacceptable. Their claim that news could not have fixed time duration such as TV shows and hence such a restrictive law would sound the death knell for them. However, syncing it with the completion of digitisation was that found favour with them.

     

    The GECs seemed unperturbed and said that they were all right with the TRAI diktat and announced that they would compensate the inventory reduction by raising per 10 second rates by 20-30 per cent. They seemed a very united bunch until one day the management at Multi Screen Media (Sony) woke up and said it would walk its own path and not reduce air time. The music channels too followed and filed an appeal with TDSAT.

     

    In the meanwhile, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry too got into the act with minister Manish Tewari stating categorically that the reduction of air time should happen as digitisation gets completed by December 2014, giving the broadcasters some much needed support. The mandarins at Shastri Bhawan were asked to evaluate how the reduction of air time would impact the TV channels.

     

    Advertisers and agencies sucked in their collective breaths and protested as loudly as they could that the broadcast industry was unilaterally trying to raise rates without any rationale despite having contracts in place and that they would not allow that.

     

    The noise continued for weeks until the hearing date came up on 31 October morning. Everyone was expecting that the TDSAT would be supportive and would rule in favour of the broadcasters. Hence, the postponement of the hearing was quite anti-climactic, though many expected it to follow that course..

     

    The GECs seemed unperturbed and said that they were all right with the TRAI diktat and announced that they would compensate the inventory reduction by raising per 10 second rates by 20-30 per cent.
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    The argument that the NBA needs more time seems a little specious, but it worked with the TDSAT. They were anyway slated to be heard on 11 November itself but their case got advanced as the number of cases went up, so for them it is back to base one.

     

    The networks – Star India, Zee TV, and Viacom18 (who had earlier stated that they would toe the TRAI line) now filed an intervention with the tribunal but have been asked to come back with a separate case.

     

    Now what after 11 November? What are the various scenarios that could play out? One, the TDSAT will turn down the appeal and tell everyone to obey the TRAI. Right now and pronto!. Two, it could postpone the hearing further, thus giving everyone more time. Third, it could decide that the reduction of air time is a good move but needs more time to be implemented. Fourth, broadcasters, advertisers and agencies could file further cases and a decision could well be put in abeyance until all the cases get sorted. The TDSAT on its part could give a ruling in one case and say that it is applicable to others, but that does not look feasible because each television channel genre has its own set of challenges.

     

    The question on everyone’s minds is whether it would give rope till 2014 December. This is something that can be debated and be seen as wishful thinking. But who knows the TDSAT may well end up playing the fairy godmother.

     

    Now, let’s say the TDSAT rules against the broadcasters, it is quite likely that they will head to the higher courts. And knowing Indian courts, it won’t be easy to reach a quick decision. Industry experts expect the air time cap to take its own course and time. That it will happen is a given, but predicting how soon is like attempting to play Russian roulette. Welcome to the world of television which has become more of a gamble in recent times.