ITV

Tag: Zeel

  • Zee Classic refreshes in attempt to attract mass audiences

    Zee Classic refreshes in attempt to attract mass audiences

    MUMBAI: The Punit Goenka-led Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has got into a hyper-refresh mood, revamping its channels, one after the other. First, it announced the relaunch of Zindagi, and now it’s the turn of Zee Classic.

    Known for showcasing movies from the sixties, seventies and eighties and nineties era, the channel is being revamped on 3 October with a new positioning and programming line-up. The reason: it has ambitious plans to expand its target audience, and thus its viewership.

    The management says it has come up with a disruptive programming idea: catalogue movies from each era into a separate time band. The channel claims that the Zee Classic is the first Indian Hindi movie channel to initiate this, and has roped in the Bollywood heartthrob Arjun Kapoor to be the channel’s ambassador.

    “At Zee, we have the largest library of movies, and now Zee Classic is adopting a strategic time-band approach instead of the the routine FPC approach,” say Zee Hindi movie cluster business head Ruchir Tiwari. “This strategy is a result of meticulous planning, acquisition and programming for an entire year which will ensure that Zee Classic caters to all kinds of viewers.”

    The library that Tiwari is referring to is 500-plus strong and includes movies over four decades – possibly catering to three generations – and hence, the channel’s proposition “Woh Zamaana, Kare Deewana”, and the revamp campaign theme “Aaj Ka Classic.”

    The time bands that have been introduced include:

    The ‘Best of 80s and 90s’ that will showcase hits from decades that saw the emergence of more than 10 superstars ranging from Jackie Shroff, Sunny Deol, Mithun Chakraborty, Anil Kapoor to the three Khans, Govinda and Akshay Kumar.

    ‘The ’70s Mix’ will showcase blockbusters from the 1970s, an era that reflected the nuances of the society, but turned out to be preeminently a decade of the ‘angry young man’, action movies and melodious music.

    ‘Shaandar Sixties’ will present movies of the 1960s, a decade that saw the rise of the popular romantic genre. The golden era of ‘Black and White’ that set the foundation of the Hindi film industry will include masterpieces that will transport spectators back in time.

    Highlighting this shift, will be exclusively curated movie festivals like Jhakaas Kapoor Festival, Har Din Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan B’day Special, among many others and specials like ‘Timeless Asha.’

    Earlier, Zee Classic was targeted at mature adults – which served as a niche – but it attracted younger audiences too. The channel has now dissected its viewers into the connoisseurs of golden cinema, the middle-aged adults, the new-age classic as well as contemporary young adults. “From the channel’s perspective, the core, however, will be the 25- 45 years age group,” says Tiwari. “UP is the biggest market, and for us the northern belt is a priority.”

    From 2004 to 2010, Zee Classic recorded a two per cent viewership share in the Hindi movie genre. This, according to Tiwari, has risen to six per cent over the past year. The idea is to now take that up to 10 per cent. “We see the channel catering to mass audiences in its specific space. It has the potential to compete with the top rated channels in the genre. It’s a strategic call that we took,” explains Tiwari. “We have to buy the films accordingly, and also plan (in that manner).”

    Zee Unimedia chief operating officer Ashish Sehgal reveals, “Zee Classic contributes a massive 15 per cent revenue share in the Zee Hindi movies cluster among the SD channels – Zee Cinema, &pictures, Zee Classic, Zee Action and Zee Anmol Cinema. In the last three to four years, Zee Classic’s revenue has grown more than four times, and as it’s evolving; currently it commands a premium rate even at its existing ratings.”

    The introduction of time bands is also expected to appeal to FMCG and other advertisers automobiles, mobile handsets, telecom and take revenues up further. “The Zee Classic viewer is comparatively more involved than on any other Hindi movie channel. For the brand campaign ‘Aaj Ka Classic,’ we have locked in three channel partners including SC Johnson, Hindustan Unilever and Dabur across all the time bands,” says Sehgal.

    The look and property of the Zee Classic logo has been designed by Zee TV’s in-house team, while the entire Aaj Ka Classic marketing and promotional campaign has been executed by FCB Ulka. Print, TV, digital and outdoor media are to be used in an aggressive manner. The TVC has been created keeping in mind the grandeur of the Indian cinema as well as the taste of the movie buff. Iconic memorabilia comprising the friend cap, musical instruments like accordion, classic movie posters, collection of books, DVDs and many more have been used to relive the various decades of cinema.

    Rights owner and film distributor Goldmines Telefilms director Manish Shah is all praise for Zee Classic. Says he: “Right now there are only two channels Zee Classic and Max 2, which are looking towards old movies. Zee Classic has a good library of classic movies. However, sometimes it resorts to airing Zee Cinema type movies to get viewership numbers.”

    And, he cautions that the tack of airing too many repeats and expanding audiences through the revamp may not really work. “We need to understand that Classic reaches to a niche audience, it is not mass audience, and if you keep repeating those movies, the viewership eventually will fall.,” he explains. “Also, if it is looking for 90s and NFDC films, then these are the kinds of movies which Classic audience doesn’t want to watch.”

    Be that as it may, the ZEEL team is pretty enthusiastic about Zee Classic’s shift. As is the brand ambassador Arjun Kapoor. Says he: “I am thrilled to be a part of ‘Aaj Ka Classic’. I have grown up loving cinema and classics have defined my choices as a viewer as well as an actor. My grandfather, father, and uncle have contributed to Hindi films for years, and I have fond memories of going on the sets and film trial shows. These movies will always be a reference point, always at the back of my mind. I am happy that Zee Classic gave me the opportunity to be a part of this campaign and I appreciate their initiative of introducing such time-band-led programming on their channel.”

    Will Zee Classic viewers too show similar appreciation?

  • Uri reaction: Zee considers dropping Pak shows from Zindagi

    Uri reaction: Zee considers dropping Pak shows from Zindagi

    MUMBAI: It makes sense, nationalism-wise. But, does it make sense, business-wise? An unexpected yet ideal tweet by media baron Subhash Chandra has catalysed a hot debate whether film actors from a hostile country should be allowed to earn millions working in the Indian film industry. His tweet follows in the footsteps of a political party sloganeering that Pakistan artistes working in India had better look for greener pastures elsewhere.

    In his tweet, Chandra says, “Unfortunate stance of Mia Sharif at UN. Zee is considering stopping Zindagi programs from Pak, as well as artistes from there should leave.” Chandra’s reaction comes in the wake of a recent attack on the Indian forces by Pakistan-trained terrorists in Uri (Jammu and Kashmir) that left 18 army men dead. He is the chairman of India’s leading entertainment company as well as a member of the upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha.

    Chandra has all along been making attempts to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan by himself or through his media empire. He even had meetings with the Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Shariff around two years ago when he launched Zindagi. At that stage, his son as well as Zeel MD & CEO Punit Goenka had tweeted: “Jodey Dilon Ko: Chairman Sh Subhash Chandra in conversation with Pakistan PM NawazSharif at the launch of @ZeeZindagiTV”

    Zee Zindagi was positioned as a channel differentiated from the rest of the GECs as it offered a bunch of popular Pakistani TV shows which it had acquired from channels in the green flag nation. The purpose: give a ‘hungry for variety’ Indian audience a chance to engage with finite TV shows, shot with a focus on scripting and different dramatization.

    Some of the Pakistani artistes who rose to fame and got work in the film industry figure are: Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Imran Abbas, Atif Aslam, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

    Zeel had earlier announced a revamp of the channel from 3 October and changed its slogan from ‘Jode Dilo ko’ to ‘Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi.’

    Earlier this year, Chandra had taken another step towards promoting Indo-Pak unity with an initiative called Zeal For Unity (ZFU). Through ZFU, ZEEL brought together 12 filmmakers, six each from India and Pakistan, and funded their one-hour shorts, which were showcased across platforms like film festivals, television, theatre and digital under the ZFU initiative.

    Questions that are being asked include whether Chandra will back his tweet with decisive action by pulling off all of Zindagi’s Pakistani content. Or, whether he was just posting his tweet at an emotional moment? Or, whether he had already decided to drop shows provided to it commercially by producers and broadcasters in the neighbouring state earlier, and was just latching on to the being-nationalistic opportunity.

    Other questions that are being raised include whether other media houses will follow suit? Will they yank Pakistani content and artistes off their programmes? Will they air trailers featuring them? One can only wait and watch how this unravels.

  • Uri reaction: Zee considers dropping Pak shows from Zindagi

    Uri reaction: Zee considers dropping Pak shows from Zindagi

    MUMBAI: It makes sense, nationalism-wise. But, does it make sense, business-wise? An unexpected yet ideal tweet by media baron Subhash Chandra has catalysed a hot debate whether film actors from a hostile country should be allowed to earn millions working in the Indian film industry. His tweet follows in the footsteps of a political party sloganeering that Pakistan artistes working in India had better look for greener pastures elsewhere.

    In his tweet, Chandra says, “Unfortunate stance of Mia Sharif at UN. Zee is considering stopping Zindagi programs from Pak, as well as artistes from there should leave.” Chandra’s reaction comes in the wake of a recent attack on the Indian forces by Pakistan-trained terrorists in Uri (Jammu and Kashmir) that left 18 army men dead. He is the chairman of India’s leading entertainment company as well as a member of the upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha.

    Chandra has all along been making attempts to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan by himself or through his media empire. He even had meetings with the Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Shariff around two years ago when he launched Zindagi. At that stage, his son as well as Zeel MD & CEO Punit Goenka had tweeted: “Jodey Dilon Ko: Chairman Sh Subhash Chandra in conversation with Pakistan PM NawazSharif at the launch of @ZeeZindagiTV”

    Zee Zindagi was positioned as a channel differentiated from the rest of the GECs as it offered a bunch of popular Pakistani TV shows which it had acquired from channels in the green flag nation. The purpose: give a ‘hungry for variety’ Indian audience a chance to engage with finite TV shows, shot with a focus on scripting and different dramatization.

    Some of the Pakistani artistes who rose to fame and got work in the film industry figure are: Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Imran Abbas, Atif Aslam, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

    Zeel had earlier announced a revamp of the channel from 3 October and changed its slogan from ‘Jode Dilo ko’ to ‘Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi.’

    Earlier this year, Chandra had taken another step towards promoting Indo-Pak unity with an initiative called Zeal For Unity (ZFU). Through ZFU, ZEEL brought together 12 filmmakers, six each from India and Pakistan, and funded their one-hour shorts, which were showcased across platforms like film festivals, television, theatre and digital under the ZFU initiative.

    Questions that are being asked include whether Chandra will back his tweet with decisive action by pulling off all of Zindagi’s Pakistani content. Or, whether he was just posting his tweet at an emotional moment? Or, whether he had already decided to drop shows provided to it commercially by producers and broadcasters in the neighbouring state earlier, and was just latching on to the being-nationalistic opportunity.

    Other questions that are being raised include whether other media houses will follow suit? Will they yank Pakistani content and artistes off their programmes? Will they air trailers featuring them? One can only wait and watch how this unravels.

  • Zindagi expands programming duration; to launch HD, bi-lingual feed

    Zindagi expands programming duration; to launch HD, bi-lingual feed

    MUMBAI: Zee Le Zindagi. Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) from the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel), Zindagi, positioned itself as a premium Hindi-Urdu channel.

    Launched in 2014 as the channel for broadcasting short-run programming, it is now expanding the duration of programmes from 26 episodes to 96 episodes. “One of the learnings we had is that people need time to connect with the characters and storyline. Earlier, we tried to the cater audience with less number of episodes but it didn’t work out well, but it will never be three or four years long shows,” says ZEEL chief business officer Sunil Buch.

    The channel has also changed its slogan from ‘Jode Dilo ko’ to ‘Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi.’

    Starting on 3 October, the channel is introducing a new line-up. The new shows include a light-hearted Turkish drama, Little Lord, three Indian originals that push societal thinking including Sunjoy Wadhwa’s Sphere Origins’ ‘TV Ke Uss Par’, ‘Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par’ by Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares and ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ by Gulshan Sachdeva’s Film & Shots. Bringing different cultures together is a co-production with Geo TV titled, ‘Teri Meri Jodi.’ Also, Zindagi’s blockbuster Turkish drama Fatmagul will continue to entertain viewers.

    Buch adds, “Zindagi was launched with the promise of bringing the best shows from across the world to the Indian television screens. Our compelling content has always been our calling card. A thought-leader in premium entertainment with a distinct character, Zindagi presents finite world stories with bold narratives which unveil universal emotions. The Alpha Club numbers give us resounding encouragement that we are on the right path of providing premium entertainment. What sets the channel apart is its consistent commitment to show real, vibrant, and premium world stories.”

    Hand-picked stories from India, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Pakistan, Latin America and Korea will now be available on Zindagi.

    The channel is also planning to launch the HD feed. “We are waiting for the licensing process to be completed. For our bi-lingual premium audiences, Zindagi will soon be available on a dual feed of Hindi and English,” he informs.

    The channel’s positioning ’Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi’ mirrors the essence of the word ‘Zindagi.’ Anywhere in the world, life is a finite progression of moments and it’s important that we live each and every one of them. There is no sense in doing rewind – play and lose our today, our moment, in the quest of analyzing / living in the past. That’s the top line of the channel, literally. Again a departure from traditional base lines associated with most brands/channels and true to the thought leader grain of Zindagi,” adds Buch.

    Unparalleled creativity and innovation will be a part of the robust marketing campaign designed to deliver across all traditional and digital mediums about Zindagi. The channel’s campaign will be initiated with a simple yet thought-provoking catchphrase ‘#ZindagiKehtiHai’ that is designed to create conversation around our life, our Zindagi.

    #ZindagiKehtiHai will dip in the currency of the world happenings and reflect the sentiments of people as they voice their views on everything that affects their lives. There will be a high impact roadblock across Zee network of 33 channels on 30 September. Engaging campaigns that will empower audiences will be visible across print, TV, DTH, digital, cinema, mobile and OOH. The publicity campaign will build advocacy through unique experiences that evoke the brand proposition and mirror the viewer’ premium lifestyles.

  • Zindagi expands programming duration; to launch HD, bi-lingual feed

    Zindagi expands programming duration; to launch HD, bi-lingual feed

    MUMBAI: Zee Le Zindagi. Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) from the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel), Zindagi, positioned itself as a premium Hindi-Urdu channel.

    Launched in 2014 as the channel for broadcasting short-run programming, it is now expanding the duration of programmes from 26 episodes to 96 episodes. “One of the learnings we had is that people need time to connect with the characters and storyline. Earlier, we tried to the cater audience with less number of episodes but it didn’t work out well, but it will never be three or four years long shows,” says ZEEL chief business officer Sunil Buch.

    The channel has also changed its slogan from ‘Jode Dilo ko’ to ‘Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi.’

    Starting on 3 October, the channel is introducing a new line-up. The new shows include a light-hearted Turkish drama, Little Lord, three Indian originals that push societal thinking including Sunjoy Wadhwa’s Sphere Origins’ ‘TV Ke Uss Par’, ‘Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par’ by Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares and ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ by Gulshan Sachdeva’s Film & Shots. Bringing different cultures together is a co-production with Geo TV titled, ‘Teri Meri Jodi.’ Also, Zindagi’s blockbuster Turkish drama Fatmagul will continue to entertain viewers.

    Buch adds, “Zindagi was launched with the promise of bringing the best shows from across the world to the Indian television screens. Our compelling content has always been our calling card. A thought-leader in premium entertainment with a distinct character, Zindagi presents finite world stories with bold narratives which unveil universal emotions. The Alpha Club numbers give us resounding encouragement that we are on the right path of providing premium entertainment. What sets the channel apart is its consistent commitment to show real, vibrant, and premium world stories.”

    Hand-picked stories from India, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Pakistan, Latin America and Korea will now be available on Zindagi.

    The channel is also planning to launch the HD feed. “We are waiting for the licensing process to be completed. For our bi-lingual premium audiences, Zindagi will soon be available on a dual feed of Hindi and English,” he informs.

    The channel’s positioning ’Yeh Lamha Hi Hai Zindagi’ mirrors the essence of the word ‘Zindagi.’ Anywhere in the world, life is a finite progression of moments and it’s important that we live each and every one of them. There is no sense in doing rewind – play and lose our today, our moment, in the quest of analyzing / living in the past. That’s the top line of the channel, literally. Again a departure from traditional base lines associated with most brands/channels and true to the thought leader grain of Zindagi,” adds Buch.

    Unparalleled creativity and innovation will be a part of the robust marketing campaign designed to deliver across all traditional and digital mediums about Zindagi. The channel’s campaign will be initiated with a simple yet thought-provoking catchphrase ‘#ZindagiKehtiHai’ that is designed to create conversation around our life, our Zindagi.

    #ZindagiKehtiHai will dip in the currency of the world happenings and reflect the sentiments of people as they voice their views on everything that affects their lives. There will be a high impact roadblock across Zee network of 33 channels on 30 September. Engaging campaigns that will empower audiences will be visible across print, TV, DTH, digital, cinema, mobile and OOH. The publicity campaign will build advocacy through unique experiences that evoke the brand proposition and mirror the viewer’ premium lifestyles.

  • Zee enters US Hispanic market; to conquer second-largest spoken language

    Zee enters US Hispanic market; to conquer second-largest spoken language

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has set a new milestone by becoming the first-ever Indian company to enter the massive Hispanic market with the launch of its Spanish-language Bollywood movie channel, ‘Zee Mundo’.

    Zee Mundo – ¡Te encanta! (‘Mundo’ means ‘World’ and ‘¡Te Encanta!’ means ‘You’ll Love It’ in Spanish) is a premium, major studio-level, HD movie channel presenting the very best of modern Bollywood cinema, dubbed in Spanish.

    Commenting on ZEEL’s entry into the Hispanic market, Amit Goenka, CEO – International Broadcast Business, ZEEL said, “Both the markets share strong cultural similarities in terms of family structure, socio-economic conditions, food, music, art and culture. We are confident that Zee Mundo’s programming will cross frontiers with storylines and themes that are relatable to the Hispanic audiences. With Zee Mundo, we have an exclusive Hollywood-quality product that is designed to attract and captivate Pay-TV subscribers through the best of Bollywood productions.”

    Rajeev Kheror, President – Strategy, International Business, ZEEL said, “With top-rated, worldwide blockbuster masterpieces, our goal is to make Zee Mundo an entertainment destination like nothing the Hispanic market has ever witnessed or imagined before. Zee Mundo will bring ZEE’s entire library of HD movie titles to Latino audiences across the U.S., meticulously dubbed in Spanish, crossing five genres (action, romance, suspense, drama and comedy) and featuring some of the world’s biggest movie stars including Priyanka Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, and Irrfan Khan.”

    Speaking on the plans for the region, Javier Lopez Casella, Head of Business, US Hispanic & Latin America, ZEEL said, “Showcasing a sensational foreign film genre that is feverishly adored by more than a billion fans, Zee Mundo will premiere global blockbusters and feature the biggest worldwide stars the Americas have yet to fully discover. After successfully capturing the US Spanish market, we will be expanding over the next few months, into other LATAM markets including Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Chile. Zee Mundo is available on DISH Latino, the first of several planned distribution deals in the US Hispanic market, which will eventually take the channel to other LATAM countries as well.” Zee Mundo’s head office is located in Miami, Florida.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is among the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world.

  • Zee enters US Hispanic market; to conquer second-largest spoken language

    Zee enters US Hispanic market; to conquer second-largest spoken language

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has set a new milestone by becoming the first-ever Indian company to enter the massive Hispanic market with the launch of its Spanish-language Bollywood movie channel, ‘Zee Mundo’.

    Zee Mundo – ¡Te encanta! (‘Mundo’ means ‘World’ and ‘¡Te Encanta!’ means ‘You’ll Love It’ in Spanish) is a premium, major studio-level, HD movie channel presenting the very best of modern Bollywood cinema, dubbed in Spanish.

    Commenting on ZEEL’s entry into the Hispanic market, Amit Goenka, CEO – International Broadcast Business, ZEEL said, “Both the markets share strong cultural similarities in terms of family structure, socio-economic conditions, food, music, art and culture. We are confident that Zee Mundo’s programming will cross frontiers with storylines and themes that are relatable to the Hispanic audiences. With Zee Mundo, we have an exclusive Hollywood-quality product that is designed to attract and captivate Pay-TV subscribers through the best of Bollywood productions.”

    Rajeev Kheror, President – Strategy, International Business, ZEEL said, “With top-rated, worldwide blockbuster masterpieces, our goal is to make Zee Mundo an entertainment destination like nothing the Hispanic market has ever witnessed or imagined before. Zee Mundo will bring ZEE’s entire library of HD movie titles to Latino audiences across the U.S., meticulously dubbed in Spanish, crossing five genres (action, romance, suspense, drama and comedy) and featuring some of the world’s biggest movie stars including Priyanka Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, and Irrfan Khan.”

    Speaking on the plans for the region, Javier Lopez Casella, Head of Business, US Hispanic & Latin America, ZEEL said, “Showcasing a sensational foreign film genre that is feverishly adored by more than a billion fans, Zee Mundo will premiere global blockbusters and feature the biggest worldwide stars the Americas have yet to fully discover. After successfully capturing the US Spanish market, we will be expanding over the next few months, into other LATAM markets including Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Chile. Zee Mundo is available on DISH Latino, the first of several planned distribution deals in the US Hispanic market, which will eventually take the channel to other LATAM countries as well.” Zee Mundo’s head office is located in Miami, Florida.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is among the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world.

  • Don’t disconnect signals to part-paying MSO, ZEEL directed

    Don’t disconnect signals to part-paying MSO, ZEEL directed

    NEW DELHI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal not to disconnect the signals to Seven Star Dot Com Pvt Ltd provided the latter keeps paying the monthly subscription on the basis of invoices raised.

    Listing the matter for further hearing on 16 September, the tribunal member B B Srivastava, on 2 September 2016, said that the Tribunal had been informed by Seven Star counsel Naveen Chawla that a sum of Rs 50 lakh had been paid by his client as an on-account payment.

    The Tribunal said this payment would be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of both the parties and will be subject to the final order of the Tribunal.

    In another case, the Tribunal adjourned to 21 September 2016 a matter by Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd after the Tribunal was informed that Pragya Vision Pvt Ltd had only paid two cheques of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10,000 against the demand of Rs 94,11,572. Adjourning the matter, the Tribunal directed that the Managing Director of Pragya Vision – who was present – will be present on the next date as well. The counsel for Pragya said his client would submit an affidavit about the schedule of payments.

    In a third case the same day, INX News Pvt Ltd Mumbai counsel Nittin Bhatia informed the Tribunal that four instalments of the payments due to Manthan Broadband of Kolkata had been made. But, the matter was put off to 13 September 2016 as Mathan counsel Anurup Narula wanted time to respond to the reply to its miscellaneous application filed by INX.

  • Don’t disconnect signals to part-paying MSO, ZEEL directed

    Don’t disconnect signals to part-paying MSO, ZEEL directed

    NEW DELHI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal not to disconnect the signals to Seven Star Dot Com Pvt Ltd provided the latter keeps paying the monthly subscription on the basis of invoices raised.

    Listing the matter for further hearing on 16 September, the tribunal member B B Srivastava, on 2 September 2016, said that the Tribunal had been informed by Seven Star counsel Naveen Chawla that a sum of Rs 50 lakh had been paid by his client as an on-account payment.

    The Tribunal said this payment would be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of both the parties and will be subject to the final order of the Tribunal.

    In another case, the Tribunal adjourned to 21 September 2016 a matter by Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd after the Tribunal was informed that Pragya Vision Pvt Ltd had only paid two cheques of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10,000 against the demand of Rs 94,11,572. Adjourning the matter, the Tribunal directed that the Managing Director of Pragya Vision – who was present – will be present on the next date as well. The counsel for Pragya said his client would submit an affidavit about the schedule of payments.

    In a third case the same day, INX News Pvt Ltd Mumbai counsel Nittin Bhatia informed the Tribunal that four instalments of the payments due to Manthan Broadband of Kolkata had been made. But, the matter was put off to 13 September 2016 as Mathan counsel Anurup Narula wanted time to respond to the reply to its miscellaneous application filed by INX.

  • When advertisers turn singers for Sony Mix’s ‘Dhun Project’

    When advertisers turn singers for Sony Mix’s ‘Dhun Project’

    MUMBAI: The folks at Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) are in a celebratory mood not just for one but two reasons. In an all cash deal worth $385 million, the network has recently inked a pact to acquire the Ten Sports channel portfolio which was with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL). Second, it is the fifth anniversary of its music channel Sony Mix.

    To commemorate its birthday, the network has initiated The Dhun Project. Through this, the channel intends to pay tribute to Indian musicians and aims to give back to India’s rich musical heritage by raising funds to empower those musically oriented and donate to educational initiatives across levels.

    “This is our way of giving back to music, by empowering its creators, curators and everyone associated with the art in India,” says SPN senior EVP and business head Max cluster, Sony Mix Neeraj VyasI. “It is a tribute to the musicians of Bollywood. Several things go into the making of a song which do not get recognised. The name ‘Dhun’ because it is a key word for music and also goes with the channel’s name. We had launched in 2011 because we clearly saw a need gap wherein music channels were providing everything else but music. We came with an aim to play more music, with a clear mood map to match music with various moods and 12 minutes of advertising. There was very little variety. The last five years have been exceptional for us. ”

    “Music is an integral part with or without Bollywood. We always wanted to grow music in this country. According to me, this is a good way to contribute and I hope to make some difference through this initiative. With The Dhun Project we want to encourage talented musicians, to help them further contribute to music in India and inspire society with the melodies they create that harmoniously unite us. The advertisers featuring in the video have identified the cause, they connect to music and will take the communication ahead from there,” adds SPN CEO N.P.Singh.

    The new initiative will be promoted on the various channels under the network and by featuring the CXO’s of media and entertainment industry, the initiative hoped to get a push through each one’s Twitter and Facebook page. Championing the cause, it has brought together stalwarts from the advertising and media industries to record an exclusive music video for the anthem. Senior executives like GroupM’s CVL Srinivas , Madiso’s n Vikram Sakhuja, Lodestar’s Shashi Sinha, Future Group’s Sandip Tarkas, Mindshare’s Amin Lakhani, Zenith Optimedia’s Anupriya Acharya, Idea Cellular’s Shuchi Singhal, OMD ‘s Harish Shriyan, Mudra’s Sonal Dabral, SPN’s Rohit Gupta and SPN’s Neeraj Vyas feature in Dhun Project music video. The project will also be played live during Goafest in front of the entire media and entertainment industry.

    The first leg of project involves the channel’s contribution of Rupees 10 Lakhs towards helping a musician who needs medical support every year. The ambassador for this year is Roshan Ali (a dholak player). Ali has recorded with artists like R.D.Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal, etc. The project is seeking help from the Indian Cine Musician Association head who suggests them a name which the channel will filter further and pin down on a person.

    It is also leveraging the crowdsourcing platform Ketto.Org, co-founded by actor Kunal Kapoor to raise funds for Spic Macay to organize a series of events across the country that will enable heritage musicians to perform in schools and colleges. Young students will be exposed to music performed by nationally celebrated musicians, who in turn will continue to earn a living from this artistic endeavour.

    To catch a glimpse of the music video, visit: