ITV

Tag: ZEE Network

  • TDSAT wants to hear all MSOs on common date for RIOs, lists matter for 30 October

    TDSAT wants to hear all MSOs on common date for RIOs, lists matter for 30 October

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) today issued notice to multi-system operators Siti Cable and Den Networks to file their viewpoint on a petition by Hathway Cable & Datacom seeking a common date for implementation of reference interconnect order (RIO) agreements.

     

    The date suggested by Hathway was 1 October, but Star India against whom the application had been filed argued that the matter had already been settled in the judgment of the Tribunal on 25 September in the Taj TV case.

     

    However, chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh fixed the matter for further hearing on 30 October, while at the same time calling upon other MSOs to implead themselves in the matter so that it could be resolved.

     

    After a fiery battle that lasted just over seven months, Hathway and Star India had last month been directed to execute an interconnect agreement based on Star’s Reference Interconnect Offer for Star general entertainment channels and Star Sports channels by 30 September.

     

    The Tribunal had also said Zee would also execute the RIO by 30 September in case it had not so far countersigned the RIO sent to it duly signed on behalf of Hathway.

     

    Before parting with the case, the Tribunal said it was “constrained to observe that the TRAI has failed to examine the rates quoted in the RIO submitted before it from the point of view indicated above. In an earlier judgment [Petitions nos.836(C)/2012 & 382(C)/2011 – Dish TV India. Ltd. Vs. ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd.], we had asked the TRAI to pay attention to this aspect of the matter but unfortunately our observations failed to receive due attention. We reiterate the urgent need for TRAI to examine the RIOs submitted to it, especially the rates quoted by broadcasters and MSOs, to make these serve the purpose as intended in the regulations.”

     

    The Tribunal “categorically rejected” the submission made on behalf of the broadcasters that publication of their RIO on their websites satisfies the condition to act non-discriminatingly. However it added that though this may be the ideal, it can never be accepted as valid having regard to the way RIOs are being framed by the broadcasters and the MSOs at present. “In the state in which we find the RIOs at present, this argument becomes a ploy to turn the RIO into a coercive tool and a threat to the seeker of the TV channels, and it undermines the essence of the regulations, which is to promote healthy competition by providing a level playing ground”, the Tribunal added.  

  • Ten Sports gets patriotic before CWG 2014

    Ten Sports gets patriotic before CWG 2014

    MUMBAI:  T20 World Cup, IPL, FIFA and now the Commonwealth Games. It has been a remarkable calendar, so far, for major sporting events both at the domestic and the international level.

     

    With broadcasters acquiring broadcast rights of various sporting events, Ten Sports, one of the few players in the sports broadcast industry, has seen one such major acquisition – Commonwealth Games (CWG).

     

    The CWG, which begins from 23 July and go on till 3 August, will be telecast live on Ten Sports, Ten action and Ten HD live. The Games, which takes place once in four years, will be held in Glasgow, this time.  The sports broadcaster has launched an aggressive marketing campaign and pre build-up shows to educate audiences about sporting disciplines and medal prospects.

     

    According to media planners Rs 4.5 crore to Rs 5 crore has been spent on the entire marketing and promotional activities for these Games.

     

    The objective of the campaign was to create a larger than life stature of CWG in India and to engage fans to boost viewership. Once the Games begin, the channel will focus on throughout the day studio coverage and downlinking the match from Glasgow.  

     

    Fogg deodorants is the broadcast partner for the channel.

     

    Ten Sports global head Rajesh Sethi says, “Major sporting events like CWG and Asian Games gain a lot of fan interest in participating nations. I am confident that our comprehensive coverage will interest and engage every sports lover.”

     

    The channel’s special programming lineup includes Medal Hunt which will give an in-depth analysis of India’s medal prospects with current stars and past legends. Sporting Heroes profiles Indian sports stars. The profiling includes expectations from the Games, the journey to stardom, training regimen and life outside the sporting arena. The Commonwealth Show puts the spotlight on top athletes, showcases the venues, behind the scenes and insights about the events.

     

    The channel has come up with a total of seven TVCs. The videos have sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Heena Sidhu, Sushil kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh PV Sidhu and Siva Thapa asking viewers ‘Kya Aapka Bhi Dil Dhadakta Hai Hindustan Ke Liye/ Does Your Heart Beat for India?’ The promos are running on both Ten Sports network and Zee Network.

     

    Vignettes too have been created. Blast From The Past is where stars relive the most famous victories in the sporting arena sharing anecdotes from the memorable victories. Know Your Sports explains the fundamentals of the sport and the various equipment used in a sport.  For What’s in my Bag athletes  talk about their kit, facts about the maintenance of the gear and any lucky charms they carry in the bag. It’s my Life is where stars talk about how they unwind-their passions other than sports and their favourite cuisine. Golden Moments is rare archival footage highlighting the achievements of some of the greatest athletes of all times. Quick Takes is interesting facts of Commonwealth Games including trivia about Indian performance.

     

    As part of the outdoor campaign, bus wraps have been used in Mumbai and Delhi on BEST, NMMT and HOHO buses. It also has a special tie up with Red FM for its radio campaigns in major metros.  Recently to promote the campaign an event was held in Delhi with a captive audience of 15,000, wherein well known comedian Kapil Sharma enthralled audiences.  

     

    On the digital front there will be live streaming on live.tensports.com. Tens Sports has a dedicated page on its website as well. There is also a section where fans can post messages to cheer team India. On Twitter, Facebook and Google +, trivia around CWG, player profiles, medal tally’s and contests are being held.

     

    According to Group M ESP national director- entertainment sports and live events Vinit Karnik “Since the last games were held in India definitely there will be some rub off on the current game. The audiences have warmed up since the last time, as they are more aware of the games which carry a sense of national pride.”

     

    The Games will see 17 sports and participation from 70 countries and a total of over 6,500 athletes. CWG will involve athletes from the Commonwealth nations including England, Australia, Canada, India and Jamaica. India ranked second at the last Commonwealth Games held in 2010 with 101 medals. The Indian government has already set a target of 125 medals for this season.

     

     

    Ten Sports also acquired the rights for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for a further period of three years till the 2017-18 season. The network has also acquired properties like German Football and the German Cup for four seasons. This promises to give audiences the opportunity to the see the world cup winners play for their clubs.

     

    US Open Tennis, I-League and The Ryder Cup in September and Hockey Champions Trophy in India in December are the other marquee properties that the Ten Sports Network has to offer in the coming months.

  • Zee’s healthy gift to Middle East

    Zee’s healthy gift to Middle East

    MUMBAI: If one thought that Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zeel) is all about drama and movies, then it is high time one turned the pages of history.

     

    Almost seven years know, Zee Networks but with a lifestyle channel, christened Veria Living, with the aim to provide a one-stop solution for those who seek overall wellness and healthy living guidance right from their home.

     

    Launched first in USA, it later made its presence in other parts of the countries, more recently in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the month of May.

     

    In a statement issued by the group on the launch of Veria for the Middle-East region, Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra said: “After a successful launch in USA and Indonesia, we bring Veria to the people of the Middle East. The essence of this channel reflects every individual’s desire to enhance their outlook in life by augmenting the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual facets in their beings. Veria will serve as a one-stop solution for all those seeking overall wellness and healthy living guidance right from the comfort of their homes.”

     

    A free-to-air channel features a wide range of shows focusing on such areas as food and nutrition, travel, exercise, alternative medicine and holistic health to redefine common perceptions about wellness.

     

     “But the content will be slightly modified keeping the Arab audiences in mind”, says Zee Network CEO (MENAPT) Mukund Cairae: “For Arab audiences, we can’t showcase content the way we air it in USA. So we do edit things that we feel is not suitable for Arab audiences.”

     

    Veria is aired on Nilesat in English with Arabic subtitles across the Middle East and North Africa region.

     

    Cairae further reveals that, to get more viewers on-board, the channel is looking at creating fresh content. “We are in talks with Yoga companies to get the Arabic content on-board.”

     

    “”The core idea behind the creation of such a unique product is to help people realize that wellness is a celebration of life itself”. “At Zee, we constantly strive to provide our audiences with new, exclusive content and programs and we understand our audience’s growing interest in maintaining an active and balanced lifestyle,” concludes Cairae.

  • Archana Kanade quits Zee TV UK

    Archana Kanade quits Zee TV UK

    MUMBAI: Folks attending MipCom and MipTV were pretty familiar with the petite Archana Kanade. Until she stopped attending the world’s leading TV content markets after being appointed as the business head of Zee Network UK’s free to air channels around three years ago. Now Archana has decided to part ways with Zee after six years with the company. Apparently, the lady is taking up an independent assignment.

     

    She has had a good innings with the network, and was running both Zing and Lamhe (a classic programming channel)  in the UK. At the time of her departure, Zing looks healthy ranking as  England’s No 1 Brit-Asian Bollywood channel. Archana had the responsibility of localizing programming in the UK and introduced shows such as Brit’s Bollywood, Cloud 9, Grinds My Teeth, and Rock the Vibe.

     

    Says the ever-smiling Archana in a press release issued by the network: “Working with Zee and its initiatives has been a great pleasure. I’ve had the opportunity to work on Zee’s channels at the perfect time when the FTA business was still budding – giving me the chance to turn around the channels for growth, focusing on the gaps in the market. I wish Zee Network continues to do well and reaches even newer heights.”

     

    Adds Zee Network CEO Europe Neeraj Dhingra in the same press release: “Archana’s contribution has been valuable to the progress of the organisation at key points in its history. Her experience of 19 long years in the industry has added to the strength of how the network’s products now stand. Her vigour and vision has been a great asset and I offer her my whole-hearted support in her future ventures.”

     

  • Zee’s Magic turns Wembley Arena into a dance floor in first event

    Zee’s Magic turns Wembley Arena into a dance floor in first event

    MUMBAI: In one of its biggest endeavour to bring the greatest Bollywood personalities to the UK and offer world class entertainment to the people here, ZEE Network has clearly turned out to be a winner. ZEE recently organised one of the biggest Bollywood musical events at Wembley Arena, with Pritam taking centre stage along with 7 of the most sought after singers from Bollywood. The event was a huge hit and Pritam and his troupe played to an enthusiastic full house. The event was also attended by esteemed personalities such as Mr. G P Hinduja amongst many others.

     

    The event kick-started with ZEE’s very own Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner, Jasraj Joshi and his rendition of Vande Mataram which left the crowd feeling nostalgic and was the perfect beginning to the Bollywood night. Pritam’s grand entry onto the stage was with his popular chartbuster “Mere Bina”, which made Wembley Arena reverberate with people’s cheers. This was followed by power packed performances from Benny Dayal, Aditi Singh Sharma, Harshdeep Kaur, Sreerama Chandra, Soham Chakraborty and Nikhil George, who sang popular numbers like Badtameez Dil, Dhoom Machale, In Dino, Jugni, Aashiyan amongst many more. Since it was also Vaisakhi, Harshdeep sang Ek Onkar, wishing everyone a happy new year. There was an extraordinary Dhol session, which got the crowd on their feet dancing and Harshdeep gave a powerful act singing popular Punjabi and Sufi numbers. Aditi did a spectacular song and dance act on the Dhoom series which left the crowd whistling. There also was a special unplugged session by Pritam where Soham and Sreerama sang soothing and romantic numbers such as Subhanallah and Tu Jaane Na. Benny’s high energy numbers like Ilahi and Badtameez Dil got the crowd dancing to his tunes. The evening ended with all the performers together on stage and the audience on ground singing the blockbuster song Balam Pichkari. Security tried hard to keep the audience on their seats throughout the show but eventually gave up, as every person in the arena was on their feet dancing. The audience even persuaded Pritam and his gang with a lot of “once mores”, but ZEE had to end the show due to time constraint.

     

    With a well promoted event, there was a lot of anticipation amongst people. Also, there was immense buzz about the show on social media, a Live interaction throughout the event and innumerable post event tweets and comments congratulating ZEE. People were all praises for ZEE’s initiatives, right from the stage lighting to the line-up of songs and singers.

     

    ZEE Network Europe CEO, Mr. Neeraj Dhingra said, “We are extremely pleased with the response to the concert. The performances by Pritam and the singers converted the near full house in Wembley into a large dance floor. Never has there been a concert with so many persons dancing and swaying to the popular tunes. Keeping with the premium image of ZEE, we ensured that the production quality (stage and sound) was second to none and surpassed most mainstream concerts held in the UK. A special thanks to Bank of Baroda and other sponsors who helped make this event a memorable affair. This gives us the confidence to arrange several more concerts in the time to come and bring acclaimed artists to London and rest of UK and Europe.”

     

    ZEE Network Europe Dy. Head & CFO, Mr. Parul Goel said, “We are very happy with the overwhelming response we have received for this concert. We were always confident that this one of a kind event with 1 music composer and 7 singers will be a grand success. ZEE has set a benchmark with this event and we are sure that every event we organise is going to get bigger from here on.”

     

    Mr. Dhimant Trivedi, Chief Executive Bank Of Baroda said, “We are proud to sponsor the event and thank ZEE for organizing it successfully. We also convey our thanks to Pritam and Company for leaving a memorable experience for music lovers.”

     

    Pritam himself was impressed with ZEE’s initiatives and humbled by people’s response. He said, “ZEE has done an excellent job and organised the concert extremely well. I was very happy to collaborate with them and give my first performance in the UK. I am now looking forward to visiting the UK and Europe again and having several concerts for my fans.”

     

    With such a successful event, everyone at ZEE definitely has all the reason to smile, and with a promise to bring on more such events, all of you keep a look out for world class entertainment by ZEE.

  • MEC India wins GoDaddy media account

    MEC India wins GoDaddy media account

    MUMBAI: WPP’s MEC India has won the media mandate for GoDaddy, the technology provider dedicated to small businesses.

     

    With over 12 million customers, GoDaddy manages more than 57 million domains globally. The company’s stated ambition is to help people easily start, confidently grow and successfully run their own ventures.

     

    GoDaddy has identified India as a priority market for their global expansion. The company recently signed on Mithun Chakraborty with a view to democratise internet-enabled businesses in India.  

     

    MEC North head Roopam Garg added, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner GoDaddy on their exciting journey. GoDaddy is all about empowering people in their quest for success and we are happy to play a small role in this great endeavour.”

     

    The clientele list of the agency includes Colgate Palmolive, Britannia, NIVEA,  FlipKart, Citibank, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters, General Electric, Zee Network, Reliance Group, CavinKare, to name a few.

  • Zee Cine Awards scales up for 2014

    Zee Cine Awards scales up for 2014

    MUMBAI: All roads and the biggest names in Indian cinema and television converge at Mumbai’s Film City on 8 February this year. Reason is the 14th edition of the Zee Cine Awards aka the ‘World’s Biggest Viewers’ Choice Awards’ to be held there.

     

    Among A-list acts, Shah Rukh Khan will perform to some of the hit numbers from his films including Lungi Dance, 1234 and so on. This year, Lux Cozi has been roped in as title sponsor. Additionally, the network is pitching for a special partner and looking for more sponsors across categories.

     

    The Zee Cine Awards, started in 1998, were the first ever awards to be introduced by a television network and have since grown into an institution of sorts.

     

    Exults Zeel managing director and CEO Punit Goenka: “Zee Cine Awards is a property with growing global reach and audience share. The success of this award over the years makes it an indispensable component of advertisers’ media mix and this year, they will further leverage it across the network’s varied channels.”

     

    This edition of the Zee Cine Awards will see a partnership with the Neeraj Pandey scripted film, Total Siyapaa, starring Ali Zafar and Yami Gautam and several initiatives on this front are to be announced shortly.

     

    Says Goenka: “Every year, the talent recognized by our viewers continues to inspire us with the depth and richness that the Hindi film fraternity represents. We will support extraordinary new films that need a platform like Zee Cine awards to showcase them to the industry, and that’s why we are pleased to support Total Siyapaa. We are looking forward to celebrating their achievements in a fittingly glamorous way at the awards.”

     

    What also makes the Zee Cine Awards unique is that viewers’ votes decide winners. For instance, last year’s awards drew an unprecedented over 4.5 million votes from across the globe. This year too, in keeping with its promise Haq Hai Aapka, the network will only declare nominees across popular categories and then pass the baton of selecting Best Actor, Best Film and so on to its loyal audience through a transparent and hassle-free voting mechanism.

     

    As Zeel chief sales officer Ashish Sehgal puts it: “We are amongst the first broadcasters to come up with an award like this. And secondly, we were the only ones to give them out as per viewers’ voting. Earlier, all the awards were constituted by film magazines – be it Screen or Filmfares.”

     

    Significantly, the Zee Cine Awards 2014 will be telecast on 23 February on multiple channels (Zee TV, Zee Anmol, Zee Tamizh, Zee Cafe etc.) across multiple geographies in different languages and genres, with a programming reach of over 700+ million viewers across 168 countries.

     

    So why are the Zee Cine Awards being held in Mumbai for the second consecutive year after creating a worldwide footprint across destinations like Singapore, London, Mauritius and Dubai?

     

    Replies Sehgal: “With almost all awards airing overseas, after a long period, we brought it back to India, thinking we should give a chance to Indian audiences also.”

     

    Zee Network is pulling out all stops to promote one of its biggest properties across platforms.

     

    Viewers can log onto www.zeecineawards.com for a visual treat that traces the journey of the awards from 1998 through 2000 and till date, complete with over 2000 exclusive photographs and over 500 videos showcasing some of the best performances, award acceptance speeches, Kodak moments and behind-the-scenes buzz.

     

    Apart from this, the awards will be promoted on all network channels, giving advertisers an opportunity to reach out to different audiences across categories. Digitally too, the awards will be promoted in a big way with SRK’s performance as one of the highlights.

     

    With the channel having achieved its targeted revenue of Rs 300 million last year, what is the target for this year, given there are restrictions on inventories unlike last time. Apparently, the network plans to make the extra moolah by showcasing the event on Zee’s HD channels as well (Zee HD, Zee Cinema HD and Zee Café HD). “Given the restrictions on inventories, the only thing that can go up is pricing,” says Sehgal.

     

    “This year, we are looking at kind of maintaining those revenues because we believe they are the highest revenues generated by an award show. The advantage we have this year is we can make extra money by showcasing these awards on our HD channels (Zee, Zee Cinema HD and also Zee Café). For evolved and discerning audiences, we are selling it separately. Though title and powered by will be common in both the channels, there will be more numbers of associate sponsors separately,” signs off Sehgal.

  • Zee’s Ditto TV makes free launch in the UK

    Zee’s Ditto TV makes free launch in the UK

    MUMBAI: The Zee Network is pretty bullish about its Ditto TV app. It has now launched it at no cost to SkyZee subscribers in the UK and also to those on other TV platforms and without a TV subscription. Phone and tablet users can download the app onto their devices and watch 17 channels at absolutely no cost, after verifying their account through a valid phone number.

     

    The app is available across all platforms, including iOS, Android and Blackberry, and there are a range of payment options to choose from, from a full monthly package to top ups via the embedded Top – up Wallet, which means subscribers can simply pay as they go.

     

    Says Zee Europe CEO Neeraj Dhingra: “Zee has been the pioneer and innovator in the media industry and with DittoTV we have demonstrated again that we are moving ahead with the times by launching a new digital platform for distribution of content across Europe. Apart from our focus on the linear channels on Sky and other platforms in UK and Europe, with DittoTV we aim to address a new segment of mobile users and make our channels easily accessible on the go. We are already seeing uplift in online subscriptions as a result.”

     

    The network has signed up Ankita Lokhande aka Archana of its most popular show Pavita Rsihta to push the app to Britasians in the UK. .The app is already proving popular with over 65,000 likes on Facebook and 7,000 app downloads to date.

  • Zee to launch one more GEC?

    Zee to launch one more GEC?

    MUMBAI: Indiantelevision.com has learnt that there is more in the offering from the Zee Network. Zee, which is known for its pioneering initiatives in the broadcasting space, soon plans to add one more general entertainment channel (GEC) to its kitty.

     

    According to highly placed sources in the industry, the network is preparing to launch the channel under the ‘&’ franchise. “The network is planning to launch yet another GEC which will have all original shows. In the coming six to eight months, viewers will have a clear picture,” reveals the source.

     

    The network launched their first interactive movie channel titled, ‘&pictures’ on 18 August. And within a few weeks, on 1 September, the network launched another channel – a GEC christened ‘Zee Anmol’ that airs re-runs of the best of Zee TV shows like Dance India Dance, Pavitra Rishta, Kasam Se among others.

     

    At the recently held Mipcom event at Cannes, the network announced that it has acquired 20 programs from Geo TV, a Pakistan based television channel.

     

    And if the source is to be believed, all the shows may be aired on this soon to be launched new GEC. “Right now, they are masking it all by saying it is for Zee Anmol but eventually it will be aired on the ‘&’ franchise sister GEC,” remarks the source.

     

    When we contacted the channel officials, they refused to comment. But with the recent developments, it seems something interesting is brewing up at the network.
    Keep watching this space for more!

  • Romil Ramgarhia is new commercial head for ZEEL

    Romil Ramgarhia is new commercial head for ZEEL

    MUMBAI: From V to Z. Z as in ZEEL. That’s how Romil Ramgarhia’s route is taking him up the ladder. From handling just one channel at Viacom 18 – Colors – he will now be the commercial head of ZEEL with the responsibility of a larger band of channels in the Zee Network.

    He will be reporting directly to ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka. Speaking on his appointment Goenka said, “I am glad to have Romil join the ZEE family, and I am confident that his rich experience will bring in immense value to the organisation.”

    Ecstatic about his new role with Zee, Ramgarhia said, “It is always an honour to join a global brand like ZEEL. I have personally been an admirer of the pioneering steps taken by this organisation in the past 20 years, and I look forward to being a part of the ZEE family.”

    The appointment is effective from 13 September 2013 and the whole commercial team will report to Ramgarhia. Prior to Viacom 18, he was also associated with Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints and ACC.
    Last month, ZEEL’s former commercial head Utpal Das shifted to Viacom 18 as its new chief commercial officer. It looks like the two networks are busy playing musical chairs with each other.