ITV

Tag: West Bengal

  • Bangla TV viewership sees sustained rise; Assembly polls insulate from Covid blow

    New Delhi: Even as the TV markets across the country reeled under the second wave, the regional Bangla market was insulated from its severe blow. The high-octane Assembly elections, which were also the longest-ever state polls to be held so far, kept the industry abuzz with a sustained rise in viewership.

    Overall, the viewership of Bangla news increased by 30 per cent during week 13-17 when the election process was underway, according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data. The number of active advertisers on Bangla news channels also rose by 11 per cent during the election period, coupled with a 12 per cent growth in ad volume, as some national news networks also expanded their footprint into Bangla news to cash in on the election fervour.

    The data was presented by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, head, client partnership & revenue function, Aaditya Pathak during the inaugural edition of the Tele-wise Bangla – the power of television organised by Indiantelevision.com on Tuesday. The day-long event was organised in partnership with Zee Bangla and witnessed insightful discussions with representatives from the field of television, advertising, marketing, and media.

    Impact of Second-wave & elections

    According to BARC, the overall television viewership across markets was subdued during the second wave. However, West Bengal witnessed less severe impacts, according to BARC. The state saw an eight per cent drop in viewership compared to last year, while the impact was much more severe in neighbouring Odisha, where the viewership declined by 18 per cent and north-eastern states of Assam and Sikkim where it dropped by 22 per cent.

    “In terms of Genres, the viewership for GECs sustained well during the second wave, with minimal disruption of original content. But, Bangla news and movie channels recorded higher viewership than the pre-Covid levels of 2020, partly on the back of tailwinds from elections,” said BARC India, head, client partnership & revenue function, Aaditya Pathak.

    West Bengal TV Market

    West Bengal contributes roughly 15.3 million TV households (6.6 per cent) to the overall national TV market of 210 million TV households. This share has increased over the last three years, from 5.9 per cent in 2019 to 6.6 per cent in 2021, contrary to the viewership trends seen in Maharashtra/Goa, south, or the Hindi-speaking markets (HSM). (All India, 2+, Total TV viewership in AMA ‘000, weekly avg). Also, while the daily tune-ins fell across markets in 2021, they remained higher in West Bengal vs 2019 levels, showed BARC data.

    As of 2021, the state has 35 channels on air that are part of the BARC ecosystem, out of which 21 channels are free-to-air (FTA), while 14 are on pay platforms. This includes 13 GECs, 10 news channels, six movie channels, four for music, and one each for kids and sports. The free platform contributes to 1.9 per cent of the TV viewership, while the share of the Pay platform stands at 98.1 per cent.

    However, unlike other regional markets like Maharashtra where Hindi rules TV viewership, the West Bengal TV market is dominated by its local language, Bangla which contributes 65 per cent to the overall TV viewership in the state, while Hindi’s share is 33 per cent. “In fact, Bangla is the fifth largest language in terms of TV viewership in the country, closely followed by Marathi,” said Pathak, “The average time spent on TV in West Bengal is also quite comparable to the Hindi-speaking market (HSM) average.”

    Since 2019, the overall ad volume share for Bangla channels has not wavered much since 2019 and remained in the 8-9 per cent range compared to the all-India levels. “It’s a GEC-driven market and the ad volume shares for Bengali GEC and movies have demonstrated growth over the years of 13 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively. However, news channels have witnessed a decline in ad-volume of almost 13 per cent compared to 2019,” said Pathak.

  • Zee Bangla launches new season of Dance Bangla Dance

    Zee Bangla launches new season of Dance Bangla Dance

    New Delhi: Zee Bangla is back with the eleventh edition of its popular dance show- Dance Bangla Dance, with actor Govinda as one of the judges. The new season will be aired at 9:30 pm on the weekends, starting this Saturday.

    Govinda will be accompanied by Bengal’s icon Jeet and actress Subhashree Ganguly on the judges’ panel. The show will be hosted by Ankush Hazra along with Bengali actor Vikram Chatterjee. The participants will be put under the tutelage of gurus – Om Sahani, Devlina Kumar, Rimjhim Mitra, and Soumili Biswas, all popular faces in Tollywood industry. 

    What sets Dance Bangla Dance apart this year is the fact that there is no age bar on participation, said the channel on Saturday.

    Commenting on the launch of season 11 of Dance Bangla Dance, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, cluster-head (East), Samrat Ghosh said, “Dance Bangla Dance celebrates the spirit of dance. It is a form of expression that brings people together, allows them to be creative and innovative, and is a way to escape the stress and cares of everyday life. Staying true to its tagline ‘Nechei hobe muskil ahsaan’, season 11 will salute the never say die attitude of humans with dance. In keeping with the brand identity ‘Notun Chhondey Likhbo Jibon’, we aim to inspire the viewers to identify the potential within and orchestrate life in a new rhythm through our offerings.” 

    Govinda, who will be judging Dance Bangla Dance Season 11, said he is looking forward to returning on the new stage in a new avatar. “The energy level of the show gets me excited and I love it when my work gets me to groove. The new season will bring to you some incredible talent from all age groups and will surely make you twirl to their rhythm. We are looking forward to your audience as we begin this new journey,” he said.

  • Colors Bangla to telecast Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020

    Colors Bangla to telecast Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020

    New Delhi: Colors Bangla is all set to telecast the fourth edition of the Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020 on the channel at 6 pm on 9 May. The event will also be simulcasted live on Filmfare’s Facebook page.

    The star-studded awards ceremony was held at The Westin, Kolkata on 3 March, and was filled with glitz and panache as popular names from the Bengali film industry walked the red carpet. A host of celebrities including Anirban Bhattacharya, Aparajita Adhya, Kharaj Mukherjee, Madhumita Sarcar, and Ash King attended the event.

    “We are proud to have hosted an award ceremony that matches up to the sheer grandeur of the Bengali Film Industry that continues to make waves every passing year,” said Worldwide Media CEO Deepak Lamba, highlighting that Bengali movies have made their mark in the world of cinema through cults films and classics which have been recognised globally. “From Ray’s masterpieces to some amazing contemporary narratives by the current generation of filmmakers and artists, this film industry has proven its credibility year after year. And it’s a great feeling to bring back the coveted black lady to honour such brilliant performances and work produced by this talented bunch,” he added.

    Apart from several celebrity performances, the telecast will include exclusive video-on-demand engaging content including the red-carpet action and behind-the-stage fun performance rehearsals.

    Speaking on the long-term association with Filmfare, Colors Bangla business head Sagnik Ghosh said, “Colors Bangla enjoys the reputation of being home to the best of entertainment, visual extravaganza and as a channel, we continue to entertain our audiences through various programs. Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020 has the iconic pedigree of Filmfare and we are proud to be associated with it as the Broadcast partner of choice. This year has been hit badly by Covid and we are happy to bring in some fun and enjoyment for the audiences.”

    Joy Personal Care was the title sponsor of the fourth edition of Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2020. The event was powered by Shyam Steel TMT REBAR, in association with Berger Silk BreatheEasy and Vimal Elaichi. Facebook and Instagram were the global digital partners and Colors Bangla was the exclusive telecast partner.

  • Doodle-icious: Amul celebrates regional leaders’ wins in assembly polls with topicals

    Doodle-icious: Amul celebrates regional leaders’ wins in assembly polls with topicals

    MUMBAI: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee was sworn-in as West Bengal chief minister for the third straight term Wednesday after she spearheaded her party to a remarkable victory in the recently concluded assembly elections. 

    2 May marked a jubilant day for regional stalwarts as along with Didi, Pinarayi Vijayan and MK Stalin also emerged victorious in their respective states despite a stiff opposition challenge.

    The TMC proved all exit polls wrong and won 213 seats in West Bengal, two more than its 2016 tally, successfully taking on the BJP juggernaut led by PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, besides a battery of national and state leaders.

    The Amul creative features the TMC Supremo in her trademark white cotton saree with the captions “She Didi It Again” and “Enjoy TrinAmul!”

     

     

    The historic win of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Kerala Assembly election has put the spotlight on its lead author, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. His resolute leadership style and daring political experiments amid major challenges and crises in the state – like the 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreak, the Sabarimala case controversy and now the Covid2019 pandemic – has found resounding approval among the state’s electorate, so much so that it re-elected an incumbent government for the first time in four decades. The LDF won 91 seats and the Congress-led UDF 40, while BJP failed to secure a single seat in the state, despite roping in ‘Metroman’ E Sreedharan in a last-minute bid to garner votes.

     

     

    The Amul Topical reads “Triwondrum” showing the Kerala CM in his signature white mundu and shirt against a backdrop of the State’s map with the words “Amul – God’s own snack” – a reference to its official state tourism tagline, God’s own country.

     In Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin-led DMK wrested power from BJP ally AIADMK, denying the ruling party a third straight term. Stalin, the 68-year-old DMK president, is all set to become the chief minister for the first time, after a decade in opposition. The Secular Progressive Alliance led by him won a convincing victory over arch-rival AIADMK in the southern state, securing 156 seats.

    The Amul topical depicts the DMK president taking a victory walk on a ramp with the words “STALwin” emblazoned.

     

     

  • TIMES NOW suspends its election results coverage on 2 May

    TIMES NOW suspends its election results coverage on 2 May

    MUMBAI: In an unprecedented move, English news channel Times Now on Saturday announced that it will suspend its coverage of Assembly elections results for four States and one union territory on 2 May, citing “the biggest health emergency” that the country is facing.

    The Times Group-owned channel said that it will track the “biggest national story”- keep COVID news as its main priority and suspend its usual special election coverage ‘on 2 May and beyond.’ 

    “As part of the coverage, viewers can expect COVID-related news reports, the latest on the status of the vaccination drive, information on helplines, and can interact with healthcare and mental wellness experts on the channel,” it stated in a social media post. However, it will still carry flash news updates on the counting and results, but refrain from covering poll-related celebrations.

     

     

    “The second wave would have been better controlled had we avoided two of the mega risk events – Kumbh Mela and elections in five states in normal campaigning mode. But, as the wave keeps climbing, with it claiming more innocent lives, it is clear that there has been a serious lapse in leadership at all levels- across the political spectrum,” the channel averred expressing concerns over the deteriorating situation and said that it has been vocal against these lapses.

     

     

    After the final phase of polling for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry assembly elections got over, all eyes are now set on 2 May when the counting of votes will take place for the four states and one UT. As many as 822 seats out of 824 scheduled for election went to poll between March 27 and April 29.

    However, the results have been overshadowed by the massive surge in Covid2019 cases and the resultant oxygen shortage at hospitals which has put the lives of millions of Indians at risk. The country is facing one of the biggest health crises, as daily cases crossed an unprecedented 4 lakh on Saturday. As many as 3,523 more people succumbed to the infections during the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 2.11 lakh.

    A staggering 69 lakh new infections were detected in the country during April when campaigning for the Assembly elections was on in several states. This was the highest tally for any month in any country so far- another dismal global record, raising a question mark on conducting regular elections during the crisis.

  • Centre asks Twitter & other SNS to delete posts critical of India’s Covid response

    Centre asks Twitter & other SNS to delete posts critical of India’s Covid response

    NEW DELHI: Twitter and other social media platforms have removed about 100 posts and URLs after the Indian government asked them to remove content that was critical of its handling of the current Covid2019 crisis or spreading fake news around the pandemic.

    Twitter said it has notified the impacted account holders of its action taken in response to a legal request from the Centre, while Facebook did not comment on the issue. According to media reports, the microblogging site censored tweets from a member of parliament, an actor, a former journalist, and West Bengal’s minister of labour and law on the government’s behest. It wasn’t immediately known what the removed posts were.

    The action comes after the ministry of information and technology, on the recommendation of the ministry of home affairs, asked social media platforms to remove the posts and URLs to “prevent obstructions in the fight against the pandemic” and disruption of public order due to the said posts.

    They added that the order was issued in view of the misuse of social media platforms by certain users to spread fake or misleading information and create panic about the pandemic in the society “by using unrelated, old and out of the context images or visuals, communally sensitive posts and misinformation about Covid protocols”.      

    Twitter removed or restricted access to more than 50 posts in the past one month at the behest of the government, including tweets that criticised its handling of the pandemic. Other posts removed showed pictures and videos of a recent Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh.       

    A Twitter spokesperson said when it receives a valid legal request, it reviews it under both Twitter Rules and local law.

    “If the content violates Twitter’s Rules, the content will be removed from the service. If it is determined to be illegal in a particular jurisdiction, but not in violation of the Twitter Rules, we may withhold access to the content in India only. The legal requests that we receive are detailed in the biannual Twitter Transparency Report, and requests to withhold content are published on Lumen,” the spokesperson said.

    Earlier this year, more than 500 accounts were suspended and access to hundreds of others in India blocked after the government ordered the microblogging platform to restrain the spread of misinformation and inflammatory content related to farmers’ protests.

    India is currently dealing with one of the worst Covid2019 outbreaks globally. On Sunday, the number of new Covid infections touched 3,49,691 cases and 2,767 fatalities, according to the Union health ministry data. 

  • West Bengal allows theatres to fully reopen

    West Bengal allows theatres to fully reopen

    MUMBAI: Even as the Tamil Nadu government has reversed its decision permitting 100 per cent occupancy in cinema halls following directions from the ministry of home affairs, it is now the turn of West Bengal to allow theatres to fully reopen. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee made the announcement while inaugurating the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival on Friday.

    Her directive is to be notified by chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay and is against the central government’s unlock rules, which stipulate 50 per cent occupancy.

    The move came a day after single-screen owners in West Bengal urged the state government to allow 100 per cent occupancy in theatres, citing poor box office returns as the reason.

    Tamil Nadu had taken a similar decision earlier this week but had to withdraw it on receiving clear cut directions from home secretary Ajay Bhalla that the unlock restrictions must not, under any conditions, be diluted. The current set of unlock guidelines will be enforced till 31 January.

    Soon after, the Tamil Nadu government issued a statement saying that the audience in all cinema theatres, including those in multiplexes and shopping malls, shall be capped at 50 per cent till further orders. The Madras high court had also stated that it believed that the state government should  reconsider its former decision of allowing 100 per cent  occupancy in cinema theatres in view of the Coronavirus situation in the state. It also said that it is not proper to give economic problems top priority when the nation is going through a pandemic.

    Now it remains to be seen is if the home secretary will once again write to the West Bengal authorities and if the Centre’s rules will be followed. It must be recalled that the Tamil Nadu government led by the AIADMK is an ally of the BJP which has formed the Union government. The Trinamool Congress is in power in West Bengal and it is a bitter rival of the Narendra Modi-led BJP.

  • Tata Tea focuses on West Bengal in regional marketing blitz

    Tata Tea focuses on West Bengal in regional marketing blitz

    NEW DELHI: Tata Tea Gold has initiated a hyperlocal strategy to its marketing, shifting the needle from not just celebrating ‘India pride’ but to also evoking ‘regional pride’. The brand aims to usher in a new era of hyperlocal advertising and communication in the FMCG category and stay away from the clutter. So far, it has released campaigns for Odisha, Delhi, UP, and is extending to other states.

    In its quest to celebrate regional pride, the brand has recently launched its latest film focusing on West Bengal.

    The campaign is aimed at celebrating the ‘Bengali way of life’. When it comes to their love for food, the people of West Bengal take great pride in their rigorous selection, approach and an eye for detail. The new campaign is a celebration of this uniquely Bengali cultural code – khutkhute-ness – that is evident in everyday situations.

    The film, conceptualised by Mullen Lintas and created by veteran Bengali filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, opens in a Kolkata street food stall where a young office going woman, who has just taken the first bite of jhalmuri, stops in between and asks the vendor to give crunchier ones. More such illustrations follow, whether it is for measuring the exacting thickness in a perfect plate of kosha mangsho or the softness and warmth of a roshogolla or the right firmness in a fish, all showcasing the Bengalis’ penchant for perfection in every little thing around food. It reaffirms that Bengalis will never settle for anything less than perfect.

    The film then pans out to a woman asking for aromatic tea leaves. While evaluating some tea in her hand, she looks unsatisfied. She asks for tea that would lend the taste buds a relishing flavour. The shopkeeper hands over the shiny gold pack of Tata Tea Gold, assuring her of a flavourful tea.

    Tata Consumer Products senior vice president marketing – packaged beverages Puneet Das said, “We wanted to celebrate the West Bengal way of life by bringing alive this core idea of ‘a perfectionist mindset’ of Bengalis, especially when it comes to their everyday food and beverage choices. This is very well expressed through this colloquial term of khutkhute-ness and we have tried to capture this through situations that will be relatable to most Bengalis.”

    Mullen Lintas chief creative officer Garima Khandelwal added, “The journey of this commercial was about landing on an insight that holds completely unmistakably true for the region, just how many brands of Tata Tea portfolio are doing with region-specific insights that evoke extreme relatability and makes the tea one’s own. What followed was then sharpening it with creative juices and partnering with the right talent. While sarcasm has long been the brand tonality, this was the first time we attempted it, in this humorous avatar.

    A few weeks ago the brand launched its film focusing on Odisha. It illustrates how the people of Odisha don’t indulge in unnecessary confrontation but shows them taking charge when it counts. The proposition of that campaign is ‘Kadak iraadon vale Odisha ke liye kadak Assam chai’.

     

  • It’s back to the movies in West Bengal from 1 October

    It’s back to the movies in West Bengal from 1 October

    MUMBAI: Cinema owners in west Bengal are heaving a sigh of relief. West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee today announced that cinema halls can start screening films for the public come 1 October.  In the process, it has become the first state government to give the green signal to the beleaguered cinema exhibition sector which has been shut since March 2020 and has run up huge losses.

    However, screenings will be limited to 50 participants and cinema halls will have to follow strict safety protocols such as masks, sanitisation, physical distancing and other precautionary procedures. Along with film screenings, jatras, plays, open-air theatres, and shows related to music, dance and magic shows will also open from 1 October. Banerjee said the decision was taken as another step to take living to near normalcy.

    Bengali actors, the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association and the Multiplex Association of India  (MAI) – have repeatedly beseeched the state government to  give the sector the go ahead to start operating again. The state has reported 4,700-odd Covid related deaths with 244,000 getting infected and 214,000 recovering. Around 3,200 new cases are being recorded daily.

    Producers and distributors have been releasing films direct to OTT over the past few months in order to cut their losses. It’s quite probable that some of them will start looking at the big screen again.

    Commenting on the development, SVF co-founder and director Mahendra Soni said: “We are happy and welcome Didi’s announcement. This is a huge relief for the exhibition industry. Having said that to restart the actual business the re-opening has to happen at a national level otherwise there would difficulty running the theatre operations without new film releases. I am hoping to get some kind of announcement from central government too. "

    "As far as SVF Cinemas is concerned we are waiting for detailed guidelines and safety protocols before we decide on the opening date. We will open as soon as possible once we have the official notification along-with do’s and don’ts," he added.

    With West Bengal opening up movie theatres, will other state governments follow? The MAI, for one, is hoping they will, sooner than later.  

  • ZEE Entertainment supports West Bengal, donates critical healthcare equipment

    ZEE Entertainment supports West Bengal, donates critical healthcare equipment

    MUMBAI: ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) today, in line with its national level CSR drive against Covid2019, officially handed over critical healthcare equipment (20 oxygen humidifiers) to the state of West Bengal in the presence of government of West Bengal health and family welfare department I.A.S secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam,  further strengthening its fight against Covid2019.

    The Company has utilized the sanctioned CSR budget (for the fight against Covid-19) to provide the critical healthcare equipment to West Bengal.

    ZEE MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “ZEE is committed to stand with the West Bengal Government in its fight against Covid-19. We hope that the donated critical equipment will help the state to address the challenges faced due to the ongoing pandemic and strengthen its overall healthcare infrastructure."

     In a letter issued to ZEE, government of West Bengal health and family welfare department I.A.S secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam said, “We express sincere thanks on behalf of the Govt. of West Bengal to ZEE for its kind gesture of contributing critical healthcare equipment to West Bengal. The support provided will go a long way in providing proper treatment to Covid2019 affected patients in the state.”

     In its national level CSR drive towards enhancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure against Covid2019, ZEE had committed to donate 240+ ambulances, 46,000+ PPE kits, 90+ oxygen humidifiers and 6,00,000 Daily Meals. The donation to the state of West Bengal is in line with this national level CSR drive.

    At a national level, ZEE has also financially supported over 5000 daily wage earners working directly or indirectly with the company. Further, 3400+ employees have contributed towards PM CARES Fund. The amount generated was matched by ZEE, and the collective proceeds were donated to PM CARES Fund.