ITV

Tag: Zee Media Corporation

  • Zee Media acquires 80% stake in India Today’s entities; to launch shopping channel

    Zee Media acquires 80% stake in India Today’s entities; to launch shopping channel

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) has acquired up to 80 per cent equity stake in Today Merchandise Pvt Ltd (TMPL) and Today Retail Network Pvt Ltd (TRNL), which are wholly owned subsidiaries of India Today Group’s entity Living Media India Ltd. The company plans to invest approximately Rs 165.78 crore over the next four years in scaling up this business.

    Today Merchandise and Today Retail Network, which are currently running into losses, have been developing infrastructure for launching a TV shopping channel and also operate an e-commerce website called www.bagittoday.com to complement the TV shopping business.

    With this acquisition, Zee Media is not only looking at shortening the launch timing of a TV shopping channel but is also planning to scale up the business at a faster pace.

    By June 2016, ZMCL will acquire 49 per cent equity stake by investing approximately Rs 39.78 crore by subscribing to equity shares of TMPL and TRNL, at par value and will have managerial and operational control over the target entities.

    Subsequently the company will increase its stake, by investing up to Rs 126 crore over a period of four years, by subscribing to any security convertible into equity shares of the two companies at par value, such that upon conversion, the shareholding of the company shall be 80 per cent of fully diluted capital of TMPL and TRNL.

    TMPL was incorporated on 23 November, 2010. During financial years ended 31 March, 2015, 31 March, 2014 and 31 March, 2013, TMPL had achieved turnover of Rs 3.84 crore, Rs 5.25 crore and Rs 5.11 crore respectively.

    On the other hand, TRNL was incorporated on 20 August, 2007 and during its financial years ended 31 March, 2015, 31 March, 2014 and 31 March, 2013, TRNL achieved turnover of Rs 37.36 crore, Rs 52.45 crore and Rs 49.80 crore respectively.

    ZMCL’s board of directors have in-principal approved the stake acquisition. ZMCL, with its existing broadcast operations, is looking to derive the synergy benefits from this proposed investment.

  • Zee Media acquires 80% stake in India Today’s entities; to launch shopping channel

    Zee Media acquires 80% stake in India Today’s entities; to launch shopping channel

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) has acquired up to 80 per cent equity stake in Today Merchandise Pvt Ltd (TMPL) and Today Retail Network Pvt Ltd (TRNL), which are wholly owned subsidiaries of India Today Group’s entity Living Media India Ltd. The company plans to invest approximately Rs 165.78 crore over the next four years in scaling up this business.

    Today Merchandise and Today Retail Network, which are currently running into losses, have been developing infrastructure for launching a TV shopping channel and also operate an e-commerce website called www.bagittoday.com to complement the TV shopping business.

    With this acquisition, Zee Media is not only looking at shortening the launch timing of a TV shopping channel but is also planning to scale up the business at a faster pace.

    By June 2016, ZMCL will acquire 49 per cent equity stake by investing approximately Rs 39.78 crore by subscribing to equity shares of TMPL and TRNL, at par value and will have managerial and operational control over the target entities.

    Subsequently the company will increase its stake, by investing up to Rs 126 crore over a period of four years, by subscribing to any security convertible into equity shares of the two companies at par value, such that upon conversion, the shareholding of the company shall be 80 per cent of fully diluted capital of TMPL and TRNL.

    TMPL was incorporated on 23 November, 2010. During financial years ended 31 March, 2015, 31 March, 2014 and 31 March, 2013, TMPL had achieved turnover of Rs 3.84 crore, Rs 5.25 crore and Rs 5.11 crore respectively.

    On the other hand, TRNL was incorporated on 20 August, 2007 and during its financial years ended 31 March, 2015, 31 March, 2014 and 31 March, 2013, TRNL achieved turnover of Rs 37.36 crore, Rs 52.45 crore and Rs 49.80 crore respectively.

    ZMCL’s board of directors have in-principal approved the stake acquisition. ZMCL, with its existing broadcast operations, is looking to derive the synergy benefits from this proposed investment.

  • Zee Media Corporation elevates Pooja Gupta as marketing head

    Zee Media Corporation elevates Pooja Gupta as marketing head

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation (ZMC) DVP – content strategy and marketing Pooja Gupta has been promoted as marketing head with effect from 9 November. 

     

    Based in Noida, she will continue to report to Zee Media Corporation COO R K Arora.

     

    In her new role, Gupta’s focus will be to build brand awareness of all channels of Zee Media across various sectors and verticals as well as with key stakeholders leading to increase traction with the company’s advertiser-customer.  

    Gupta’s contribution will be to undertake a review of the branding and marketing proposition, in line with the development of Zee Media strategy.

     

    All marketing functions, response cell and content strategy teams across the channels will now report to Gupta.

  • Zee Media Corporation CEO & executive director Ashish Kripal Pandit resigns

    Zee Media Corporation CEO & executive director Ashish Kripal Pandit resigns

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation executive director and CEO Ashish Kirpal Pandit has resigned from the company with effect from 12 October.

     

    He handled senior management roles for more than 27 years in industries from ranges from telecom to retail. He has been associated with brands like Alcatel, Efirst Technologies, Fortis Healthcare Limited,  Reliance Webstore and Tata Teleservices. 

     

    Pandit joined Zee Media Corporation in October 2014 and looked after senior management team. Pandit was with Digicall Global for three years before joining Zee.

  • FY-2015: Zee Media’s revenue up 62.4%; ad revenue up 78.6%

    FY-2015: Zee Media’s revenue up 62.4%; ad revenue up 78.6%

    BENGALURU: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) reported 62.4 per cent growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 544.33 crore in FY-2015 as compared to Rs 335.15 crore in FY15-2014. 

     

    Notes: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    (2) The figures in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise.

     

    (3) The consolidated financial results of the Company comprise of financials of following subsidiaries viz.

     

    Zee Akaash News Private Limited (60 per cent), Mediavest India Private Limited (100 pe rcent), Diligent Media Corporation Limited (99.99 per cent), Pri-Media Services Private Limited (100 per cent) and Company’s share in the results of an Associate entity, Maurya TV Private Limited, wherein Company held 37.87 percent till 11 December, 2014 and post 11 December, 2014, consequent to further acquisitions, Maurya TV Private Limited became Wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.

     

    Advertisement and Subscription revenue

     

    The company says in its earnings release that advertisement revenue in FY-2015 increased 78.6 per cent to Rs 393.88 crore as compared to the Rs 220.51 crore in FY-2014. Advertising revenue in Q4-2015 increased 82.5 per cent y-o-y in Q4-2014 to Rs 98.69 crore from Rs 53.3 crore in Q4-2014 and was 1.5 per cent lower as compared to the Rs 100.13 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.  

     

    Television advertisement revenue increased 40.8 per cent in FY-2015 to Rs 310.55 crore as compared to Rs 220.51 crore in FY-2014, out of which advertisement revenue from new channels grew 21.9 per cent to Rs 13.81 crore in the current year from Rs 11.33 crore in the previous year.

     

    Television ad revenue in Q4-2015 at Rs 80.16 crore was 50.4 per cent more than the Rs 53.3 crore in Q4-2014. Ad revenue from new channels in Q4-2015 more than trebled (3.1 times) at Rs 5.26 crore as compared to the Rs 1.7 crore in Q4-2014. Advertising revenue from ZMCL’s new channels in Q3-2015 was Rs 3.33 crore. 

     

    Subscription revenue grew 13.7 per cent in FY-2015 to Rs 113.54 crore from Rs 99.90 crore in FY-2014. Subscription revenue grew 11.9 per cent y-o-y to Rs 30.21 crore from Rs 27 crore and was 0.4 per cent lower than the Rs 30.33 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Let’s look at the other numbers reported by ZMCL

     

    ZMCL reported 52.6 per cent growth in TIO at Rs 139.88 crore in Q4-2015 as compared to the Rs 91.69 crore in Q4-2014 and almost flat as compared to the Rs 139.875 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. 

     

    ZMCL reported a loss of Rs 46.65 crore in FY-2015 versus a PAT of Rs 18.93 crore in FY-2014.

     

    The company reported loss of Rs 7.18 crore in Q4-2015 versus a PAT of Rs 4.11 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year and a loss of Rs 10.42 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Total expense (TE) in FY-2015 at Rs 554.43 crore was 70.2 per cent more than the Rs 325.76 crore in FY-2014. The company’s TE in Q4-2015 at Rs 137.48 crore was 69.1 per cent more than the Rs 81.3 crore in Q4-2014 and was 1.5 per cent more than Rs 135.11 crores in Q3-2015. 

     

    ZMCL’s employee benefit expense (EBE) in FY-2015 at Rs 160.66 crore was 60.6 per cent more than the FY-2014 EBE in Rs 99.1 crore. Q4-2015 EBE at Rs 39.34 crore was 51 per cent more than the Rs 25.13 crore but was 1.1 per cent less than Rs 39.76 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    In FY-2015, ZMCL’s operational cost at Rs 104.70 was 58.3 per cent more than the Rs 66.13 crore in FY-2015. ZMCL’s operational cost in Q4-2015 at Rs 27.94 crore was 70.6 per cent more than the Rs 16.38 crore in Q4-2014 and was 19.5 per cent more than the  Rs 23.39 crore in Q3-2015. 

     

    Company Speak

     

    ZMCL News Cluster group CEO Bhaskar Das said, “The continuing growth of advertising revenue in FY-2015 gave us ample scope to experiment with path breaking content like roping in cricket celebrities for World Cup programming. From ‘update’ to ‘upgrade’ our content philosophy has evolved to cater to the ever increasing demands of an engaged consumer. The initiation of BARC ratings in the new fiscal will bring about a paradigm shift in how the industry and advertisers track the viewership data.”

     

    ZMCL CEO Ashish Kirpal Pandit added, “The company, in addition to upgrading its content and increasing its penetration among advertisers, is also focusing on improving its operational efficiency, which is evident from improving margins. The company plans to make full use of the increase in digitization and expected improvement in viewership measurements and move towards a more analytical approach to doing business.”

  • Marketing heads continue to roll at ZMCL

    Marketing heads continue to roll at ZMCL

    MUMBAI: In a recent churn of events at the Zee Media Corporation, resignations galore are pouring in and surprisingly they are all from the marketing department. 

     

    As was confirmed to Indiantelevision.com by various channel sources, Zee Media Corporation AVP marketing Manoj Sandal has put in his papers at the company. A pass out of Indian Institute of Commerce and Trade, Sandal was promoted to the rank of AVP marketing in April 2013.

     

    It may be recalled that the first resignation came in from Zee News AVP marketing Rohit Kumar, whose decade long tenure at the group ended a few days back.

     

    While the reason behind the same could not be ascertained, sources from the group said, “We are unaware about the reason but the call has been taken by the management entirely.”

     

  • Dr. Subhash Chandra to inspire students at IIM Ahmedabad

    Dr. Subhash Chandra to inspire students at IIM Ahmedabad

    MUMBAI: Continuing with its on-going effort of encouraging younger generations to take up challenging paths in the corporate world, Zee Media Corporation’s flagship show, Dr. Subhash Chandra Show, will be held at the sprawling campus of India’s premier institute, IIM Ahmedabad on 26 December 2014. The show will be hosted by the Chairman of Essel Group and ZEE, Dr Subhash Chandra.

    The show will focus on the importance of Talent Management – it being the most important pillar in the corporate world. In today’s competitive environment, it is coherent for organizations to effectively attract, identify, develop and retain people.

    During the one-hour show, Dr. Chandra will share his valuable thoughts towards managing talent. The show will be aired on Saturday at 10 pm on Zee News and 7pm on Zee Business and on Sundays at 11 am on both Zee News & Zee Business.  This show will also be aired on other channels of Zee Media.

    A self-made man, Dr. Chandra has consistently demonstrated his ability to identify new businesses and lead them on the path to success. It takes immense courage and motivation to shape ideas into reality. From trading goods, setting up a packaging industry to opening up theme parks and multiplexes, and creating India’s largest and most profitable TV media group and launching an English newspaper, Dr. Chandra has travelled a long way. It was Dr. Subhash Chandra’s vision that helped give birth to the satellite TV industry in India in the year 1992.

    Dr. Subhash Chandra Show Timings:Learn how to innovate, set up and make your business flourish from the expert himself, a man of a thousand ideas, Dr. Subhash Chandra. Don’t miss the Dr. Subhash Chandra Show for an enterprising and entertaining weekend!

  • Zee Business to bring the most comprehensive budget analysis

    Zee Business to bring the most comprehensive budget analysis

    MUMUBAI: With the new dispensation in place the aspirations of the common man is soaring high, Zee Business (part of India’s largest News Network, Zee Media Corporation Limited) India’s No. 1 Hindi business news channel will bring the most comprehensive budget analysis for its viewers on the budget day.

     

    Zee Business will telecast the pre Budget discussions and analysis from 7 am onwards and will bring in live and uninterrupted coverage of the Hon’ble Finance Minister Budget Speech from 11 am onwards.   The channel will articulate, analyse and keep the common man abreast of all the impacts that Budget is going to have on their daily lives.

     

    Interestingly themed as the “Abki baar, sapne sakaar”, Zee Business will have expert panel, business leaders and corporate captains throughout the day to give their expert advice. Post the Finance Minister’s speech, Zee Business will undertake a series of power packed Budget Bulletins. Some of these bulletins will comprise of high power panel discussions and will involve expert comments from the nation’s top business leaders and policy makers.  Some of the key Ministers holding important portfolios have already appeared and shared their views, and will also do so during post-Budget analysis programmes. To name a few are Hon’ble Minister of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy, Sh. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Sh. Prakash Javadekar and Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.

     

    Further, special shows has been conceptualized which are thoroughly researched from industry point of view without losing the ground reality and its impact on the common man.  Expert opinions, industry perspective viz – a – viz market reaction and informative bulletins will be telecast.

     

    What’s more, Zee Business will focus strongly on adding value to the viewer experience and building interactivity on the day of India’s most important economic event, the channel will organize a viewer’s engagement program throughout the day from different parts of the country. Here, commoners get a voice to air their reaction and feedback on the pertinent issues on budget. The channel will undertake post – budget analysis including, which will help the audiences to decipher their expectations.

     

    Mr. Samir Ahluwalia, Chief Executive Officer, Zee Media Corporation Limited said, “With clear understanding of the expectations of the India Inc. as well as indications of the common man, Zee Business is poised to present a comprehensive Budget coverage. Through special programming & initiatives focusing on budget expectations, analysis & impact, Zee Business will once again ensure specialized coverage on Budget Day.”

  • Jindal vs Zee Media: Jindal denied permission by NBSA

    Jindal vs Zee Media: Jindal denied permission by NBSA

    NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) today denied the plea of steel magnate Naveen Jindal to amend the relief sought since the matters raised by him against Zee Media Corporation. The reason being that the matter was already pending before the Delhi High Court and the Election Commission of India.

     

    It also said it would not be able to entertain the complaint.

     

    NBSA chairperson justice R V Raveendran said, “It will not be appropriate to permit the complainant to amend the relief sought, to get over the bar contained under second provision to Regulation 7.2.”

     

    However, the NBSA said, “If Jindal wants to file a complaint under the regulations, independent of the subject matter of the suit, it is open to him to take action as is permissible in law/in accordance with the regulations.”

     

    The second proviso to Regulation 7.2 of the NBSA Regulations reads, “Provided that nothing in these regulations shall be deemed to empower the authority to hold an enquiry into any matter in respect of which any proceeding is pending in a court of law or other tribunal or statutory authority.”

     

    Jindal, then Member of Parliament, had filed a complaint on 18 March 2014 to the Election Commission of India against Zee News, Zee Business and Zee News (UP) channels with regard to the contents of certain news broadcasts on 7 March, 10 March and 16 March. It sought a direction to Zee News and its associated channels not to air what he termed “false, defamatory, misleading news items against him and his company.”

     

    The Election Commission of India forwarded the complaint to NBA on 20 March so that NBSA could consider the complaint and take such action as it deems appropriate. NBSA considered the complaint at its meeting on 21 March and decided to issue a notice to the broadcaster calling upon them to file its response. Both parties were also called for a hearing today. While Jindal was represented by lawyers, Zee Media (legal) vice president Sanjay Jain was present along with his lawyers at the hearing.

     

    In its response of 8 April, Zee Media Corporation alleged that Jindal had filed a suit before the Delhi High Court on the very same allegations, seeking permanent and mandatory injunctions as also damages; that Jindal also moved for an application for temporary injunction; and that the application had been rejected on 1 April.

     

    The broadcaster also contended that in view of Regulation 7.2, Jindal cannot pursue any remedy before NBSA when a suit is pending on the same issue.

     

    The matter was heard on 1 May and the NBSA found that both the complaint and the suit are based on the same facts and grievances and the reliefs sought are also the same.

     

    Jindal’s counsel submitted that the complaint was to the Commission and not to NBSA and he may be permitted to pursue it before the Commission. 

     

  • Z ETC Punjabi to shut down

    Z ETC Punjabi to shut down

    MUMBAI: Come 30 April and Z ETC Punjabi subscribers will no longer be able to watch the channel. Reason-the broadcaster has decided to shut shop.

     

    The direct to home (DTH) operators have already started informing their subscribers about the channel shut down in the form of a scroll running on the TV screens. The message is loud and clear: The channel will be discontinued from the platform due to the broadcaster’s decision of shutting it down.

     

    Sources from the channel have confirmed to indiantelevision.com that Z ETC Punjabi will soon shut down and that its employees will be absorbed into Zee Entertainment’s other channels.

     

    Z ETC Punjabi is an entertainment channel from the Zee stable that has fiction shows, comedy, travel and living, movies and music.

     

    Formerly called ETC Punjabi, the network was taken up by Zee in 2002. Zee also runs another channel called Zee Punjabi that comes under Zee Media Corporation. The channel runs in the Terrestrial Entertainment Network (TEN) format like Zee Purvaiya, Zee Kalinga and Zee Marudhara. In this format, the channel has half of its content as news while the other half has entertainment shows.