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Tag: ZeeQ

  • Dubbing company Business of Language eyes digital expansion

    Dubbing company Business of Language eyes digital expansion

    MUMBAI: Indians love to consume content, be it in the language they understand or otherwise. Understanding this need to reach to greater viewers, Discovery Channel, which started operations in the country 20 years back introduced dubbed content to Indian viewers. Viewers since then have been exposed to content dubbed not just from English to Hindi, but other regional languages like Tamil, Telugu and Bengali among others.

     

    Bridging the language gap is also Business of Languages (BOL), which was launched by former Disney UTV national business head – dubbing Rahul Bhatia in September 2013. Bhatia, who has been in media for the past two decades, decided to set up his own venture to expand his expertise. 

     

    BOL’s journey started with Fisthronaut on ZeeQ, which later expanded to NGC, Fox Traveller and NDTV Good Times. Bhatia is also working with Google for metadata service, wherein BOL has done a pilot project to translate English content into Hindi. “Google is a big client for us and we plan to work more closely with them in the future,” says Bhatia.

     

    BOL dubs content into Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Assamese and Bengali among others. “We specialise in dubbing. The USP of the company is that we dub the content from the region. We do not believe in dubbing Tamil content from a studio in Mumbai. We would do it from a Chennai studio. We are currently dubbing content in Gujarati for NGC Gujarati from Ahmedabad. The reason behind this is to get the perfect local dialect, which makes it easier for people to connect,” says Bhatia.

     

    After tasting success in broadcast, BOL is now spreading its wings to digital, radio and print. The company is into content translations as well and is working with public relations company MSL. “We do all the language translations for their press releases. We are also the exclusive vendors for Fortis Hospital,” he informs.

     

    BOL has also worked on the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The campaign was done by the NGO Breakthrough in English. We translated it into Hindi and made certain creative changes as well,” informs Bhatia.

     

    Understanding that digital is the key, BOL has created food videos for a digital platform. “Anything to do with language on any platform is where we operate. We have worked with Ibibo, Micromax and e-learning content,” he says.

     

    What’s more, it was BOL that dubbed the famous animation Burka Avenger in Hindi and Telugu, which was telecast on ZeeQ.

     

    Based in New Delhi, BOL has regional operations in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The company has also tied up with studios in different states, which act as their local vendors. “I have my operations people in the region, who coordinate on a day-to-day basis,” he adds.

     

    In the wake of Netflix’s impending entry into India next year, BOL has set its sights on digital expansion. “Netflix has tied up with TV channels for content, which will also need dubbing. We are preparing ourselves for this digital boom,” says Bhatia. 

     

    BOL has, from the beginning, been a profit making venture. “While we started in September 2013, we set up our first studio in December 2013. In the first year itself, we had a turnover of Rs 30 lakh. In 2014, we had a turnover of Rs 1.9 crore and this year we are expecting a turnover of R 3 crore,” he informs.

     

    The dubbing sector has seen a major price fall. While at one stage, a set up would cost approximately Rs 40 lakh for one studio, today it has come down to as low as Rs 8-10 lakh for one studio. Not only this, the cost of dubbing has also come down substantially. “In the beginning, dubbing cost Rs 1-1.5 lakh per episode, but today it has gone to as low as Rs 15,000- 20,000 per episode,” he says.

  • ZeeQ to launch ‘Kahaani Express 2’

    ZeeQ to launch ‘Kahaani Express 2’

    MUMBAI: After the overwhelming response to the first year of Kahaani Express, ZeeQ is back with its second innings, which is looking to create a large scale impact by reaching out to approximately three lakh students (from standards 2 to 7) across the country, this year.

     

    Kahani Express is a story telling platform giving young India an unmatched chance to learn and express themselves. The activity, which will start at the city level targeting 470 schools across 24 cities in the country, will culminate into a national competition to be held in Kolkata in the first week of December 2015.

     

    This activity is strategically divided into three parts, beginning with a school workshop conducted by expert storytellers who will demonstrate story development techniques with the help of specially designed picture panels and other props. It will be followed by city finals where the three best stories from each school will be judged by a jury of literary personalities, and one winner per city will go on to participate in the national-level finals to be held in Kolkata.

     

    To enhance the reach of the initiative, ZeeQ has planned an extensive marketing campaign encompassing on-air, digital and on-ground promotions for maximum reach and impact.  

     

    ZeeQ brand head Ashwin Sashital said, “ZeeQ is one of India’s popular kids’ entertainment channels. The channel has always been about learning various life-skills and values in the masti way, making it a fun process for the kids. Kahaani Express is yet another such initiative by the channel keeping up to its promise of encouraging fun learning.”

     

    Go Cheese and Cello Pens have come on-board Kahaani Express 2015 as co-powered by sponsors, whereas Monginis is a special partner.

  • ZeeQ undergoes major revamp; sees 35 per cent revenue growth

    ZeeQ undergoes major revamp; sees 35 per cent revenue growth

    MUMBAI: Taking a step towards fostering curiosity amongst children through fun and entertainment, Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) forayed into kids television in 2012 with the launch of ZeeQ.

     

    The aim was to gain a foothold in a genre that was mostly dominated by foreign networks like Disney, Nickelodeon and Turner at that point of time. Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka during the launch mentioned that ZeeQ is an effort towards children learning in a safe environment.

     

    Now, three years since launch, the channel has undergone a major revamp. Kids is number three priority genre in Indian television and has high viewership not only among children but parents as well. Keeping this factor in mind, the channel has launched new programmes targeting SEC ABC 4-14 years.

     

    Additionally, the channel has been on an upward swing as it witnessed a 35 per cent revenue growth quarter-to-quarter basis.

     

    Now with summer kicking in, the time is just right to engage with the TG. Beginning 13 April, the channel launched a slew of 14 new shows across comedy, action and art and craft.

     

    When queried by Indiantelevision.com on the reason behind the revamp, ZeeQ brand and communications head Ashwin Sashital explains that like every other kids channel, its focus is on providing entertaining content during summer vacations. As per the trend, kids also prefer to view local content, he informs.

     

    Going the local way, ZeeQ launched two locally animated comedy shows – Bandbudh Aur Budbak and Pyaar Mohabat Happy Lucky along with a locally produced DIY show – The Art Room.

     

    To support the locally produced shows, the channel has a host of licensed properties like Burka Avenger, Shakimaan, He-Man, Sarah and Duckand Dino Paws to name a few.

     

    Barring two shows – Dinosaur Train and Zou, the entire content on the channel will be new. ZeeQ will launch new episodes of these shows, which are working well for them. Sashital says, “With the new high-concept shows on board, the ethos of the channel still stays healthy entertainment for the kids. We have designed shows where  parents can trust their kids to watch without supervision. For example, shows like The Art Room, which engages the kids in the art and craft genre and Burka Avenger, which addresses girl education etc. These programmes lay emphasis on knowledge, values and life skills in a very engaging way.”

     

    Unlike some players, who take feedback from their TG before a revamp exercise, ZeeQ did trend analysis based on TAM research data.

     

    While on the one hand, weekdays will be filled with new shows, weekends will be more for catch up stacked episodes and movies. Sashital says, “We have additional seasons of most of the shows and we will take a call depending on the response as to when they will launch.”

     

    To gain traction for its new shows, the channel has launched an extensive marketing campaign, which will be spread over a period of three months in the Hindi Speaking Market (HSM). The channel has started the rebranding with an extensive TV campaign on Zee network and other select channels.

     

    As part of the audience outreach programme, ZeeQ will organise on-ground activities and school contact programmes etc. based on the new shows. The channel is partnering with leading media houses for focused above the line (ATL) and below the line (BTL) promotional activities.

     

    “Activation plays a very critical part in engaging with kids. Summer workshops, school contact programs and mall activations are our key areas for promoting the shows and channels. About 60 per cent of our marketing budget is skewed towards activation,” concludes Sashital.

  • ZeeQ ties up with KGAF 2015 for Children’s Festival

    ZeeQ ties up with KGAF 2015 for Children’s Festival

    MUMBAI: Taking forward its motto of ‘Mind-full Masti’, ZeeQ has tied up with the 16th edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF). The channel is the sponsor for the Children’s segment of KGAF 2015.

     

    The festival kick-started from 7 February and will be on till 15 February in Mumbai. The nine day festival will see many workshops that will take kids to many different fun zones.

     

    Out of the events happening is a special workshop by skilled toy maker Lalon will take place on 12 February from 3 to 4 pm at the Museum Gardens. Lalon is an NID graduate and also the host of ZeeQ’s new upcoming show The Art Room, which launches on 13 April, 2015.

     

    The workshop will focus on handmade toys made using materials like bamboo, wood, terracotta etc. There will also be a fun filled treasure hunt designed for children between the age group of 9-13 years, where they will discover interesting facts about Mumbai city, its history, culture, governance and its people.

     

    The spot registrations for the Children’s Treasure Hunt will start at Horniman Circle, on 15 February at 10:30 am and each team will comprise one parent and one child.

     

    The channel also presents ‘The Genius of the Day’ wherein during these nine days, ZeeQ will select one ‘genius’ each day who shows exemplary talent at the workshops, ranging from art, storytelling, baking to Zumba.

     

    ZeeQ brand and communications head Ashwin Sashital believes that the festival is a great opportunity to engage with the young minds and share with them India’s rich and beautiful cultural heritage along with some fun and exciting games. “ZeeQ is happy to be associated with the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, 2015 as we saw a good synergy with the brand. We look forward to taking this association with KGAF to greater heights in the future and hope it gets bigger and better,” he said.

  • ZeeQ announces Kahaani Express for children

    ZeeQ announces Kahaani Express for children

    MUMBAI: ZeeQ has announced India’s first ever inter-school storytelling event ‘The Kahaani Express’to provide children an exciting opportunity to use their imagination and bring out their creativity. The channel is reaching out to children from classes 2nd – 7thin over 200 schools across 10 cities. Keeping in mind that the children are highly observant and imaginative; ZeeQ is looking at giving them a platform to express themselves.

     
    The Kahaani Express aims to reach out to 90,000 students across 10 cities within a span of 3 months. This first of its kind school contact programme, will have specially designed sessions for primary as well as secondary school students. An expert story teller will conduct the storytelling session which will include specially designed picture panels, story development techniques with props along with workshops under the guidance of facilitators. That’s not all; every participating school gets a special memento on behalf of ZeeQ.

     
    Speaking on this occasion Aparna Bhosle, Deputy Business Head, Zee exclaimed, “Storytelling is a great way to connect. It’s a platform through which a child can emote and evoke thoughts besides being fun, it enthuses, both the teller and listener. ZeeQ’s objective has always been to provide Mindfull-Masti and Kahaani Express is another step forward in this endeavor. Through Kahaani Express, we aim at nurturing this amazing quality of storytelling in children at an age when their minds are highly impressionable.”

     
    ZeeQ is planning a Pan India 360 degree marketing campaign for this activity which touches upon various medium such as on-air, digital and on-ground. The channel is conducting a story writing contest on-air as well as online to give other kids an opportunity to showcase their creativity.

     

  • This Diwali let’s do some ‘Kamaal Dhamaal’ fun and masti with ZeeQ!

    This Diwali let’s do some ‘Kamaal Dhamaal’ fun and masti with ZeeQ!

    MUMBAI: ZeeQ has lined up a dhamakedaar treat, promising its viewers a crackling yet safe Diwali. This Diwali the channel offers something new to excite viewers with the ‘Kamaal Dhamaal’ treasure hunt. With exciting prizes in store for the top scorers in the contest, this year’s Diwali is definitely going to be an exciting one for kids.

    The contest period is for 3 weeks starting from October 19, 2014. Kids need to spot the ZeeQ character coins which will appear frequently on the channel.

     The point value of each character is as below:

    Each character will have a special code which will appear on-air when the coin is being displayed everyday between 9 am to 9 pm. The viewers need to spot these coins and SMS the code to 57575 to collect maximum number of points. There are also bonus coins which will appear periodically on the channel which will help the viewers boost their scores and increase their chances of winning exciting prizes.

    That’s not all. To make the contest even more interesting, ZeeQ has introduced two very interesting aspects to the game, one is the Happy Hours and the other being the Clue Cam. In Happy Hours, there will be a huge boost in the frequency of the coins that appear on the channel so that viewers can score the highest possible points. The Clue Cam, a very interesting feature of the contest will randomly appear on screen and give a clue on when the next coin appears. The contest will run on-air from Monday to Sunday for three consecutive weeks and the winners will be announced every Wednesday.
     The Top 100 scorers of the contest win ZeeQ T-shirts and sippers. The Top 30 scorers at the end of 3 weeks will win exciting mobile phones, while the top scorer of the contest wins the coolest gaming console.
    Commenting on this, Aparna Bhosle, Deputy Business Head – ZeeQ, says, “ After the grand success of “ I love CBeebies” contest on ZeeQ, this Diwali, the ZeeQ Kamaal Dhamaal Treasure Hunt is yet another effort to engage with children and give away hundreds of prizes to make their festive period even more fun.”
    Come, watch and participate in one of the most exciting contests this Diwali Starting October 19, 2014 only on ZeeQ

  • ZeeQ brings award-winning international shows to India

    ZeeQ brings award-winning international shows to India

    MUMBAI: Stirring up the inquisitive and adventurous side of the kids, ZeeQ is all set to launch, Jack and Rolie Polie Olie. Premiering on 19 May, Jack will be aired on Mondays and Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and Rolie Polie Olie will be telecast from Monday to Thursday at 10:00 am.

     

    Jack is a comedy adventure series about a curious explorer from another world who wishes to learn about Earth and why things are the way they are. He lives a normal life with his two companions in his home in Beano, a small asteroid that orbits the earth. Unbeknownst to all parents on Earth, he quietly tunes in with the help of CHIP to search for and monitor little mysteries for Earth’s children. When one of those questions strikes his fancy, he goes on a mission to investigate, and unravels the mysteries.

     

    Together with his two Earth buddies and his alien pet, Jack finds out answers to complicated questions like why our tummies rumble or what happens to the rain.
    Rolie Polie Olie, on the other hand, centers around the Polie Family, who live in a teapot-shaped house in a geometric world named ‘Planet Polie’ where the robot Olie learns life lessons and has wacky adventures while growing up. These often include his younger sister Zowie, his inventor father Mr. Percy Polie, his hard-working mom Polina Polie, his fun-loving grandfather Pappy, and his dog, Spot.

     

    ZeeQ channel head Subhadarshi Tripathy said, “We are glad to bring these internationally recognized shows to India. The shows aim to create compelling stories through imaginative exploration. Our endeavor is to bring world class content that facilitates all-round development of children. The new shows are introduced in line with our objective.”

     

  • ‘Engineer This!’: An all new ‘Do-It-Yourself’ show by ZeeQ

    ‘Engineer This!’: An all new ‘Do-It-Yourself’ show by ZeeQ

    MUMBAI: Aiming to unleash the creative side in every child, ZeeQ, India’s fastest growing channel in the kids’ genre, has launched Engineer This!, a show based on simple engineering techniques and fun-filled ‘Do-It-Yourself’ activities that can be carried out at home. Engineer This! will debut on ZeeQ on April 23, 2014, Wednesday at 6:30 pm.

    Engineer This! is a show that uses the broken bits and pieces around the house, and gives it a face lift. It features simple techniques which can be applied on various materials available easily to create a home-made masterpiece.

    The show will feature concepts across diverse fields viz. Hydrophonics, image stabilization in today’s digital cameras, the purpose of weight in unique structures, cleaning equipments like a vacuum cleaner, wind energy via a wind turbine and many more in an engaging manner. Furthermore, the show will also feature exciting craft projects that can be used to brighten up homes everywhere.

    Speaking on the show launch, Mr. Subhadarshi Tripathy, Channel Head, ZeeQ said, “Engineer This! is a show designed to stimulate the grey cells of our young viewers. It is a show based on innovation compelling children to think about various usages of sundry materials, it teaches them to widen their view, think out of the traditional use of materials available at home and create an innovative magnum opus of their own. Through Engineer This! we plan to unleash the ingenious side of a child.”

  • ZeeQ launches SATRANGI, a journey in search of India’s young folk musicians

    ZeeQ launches SATRANGI, a journey in search of India’s young folk musicians

    MUMBAI: Celebrating the essence of India’s rich folk music forms, ZeeQ, India’s fastest growing channel in the kids’ genre, has launched a new show ‘SATRANGI.’ The show will provide a platform to the young folk musicians of India and showcase their lineage, their traditions and their vast musical talents.

     

    Making its debut on the 25th of April, at 7pm, SATRANGI will take you on a journey of untold stories of artists who have nurtured various forms of music and have learned to play traditional musical instruments that have added to the splendour of India’s musical heritage.

     

    And lending her voice to this show as its host is Deepali Sahay, well-known Indian classical singer and an Indian Idol finalist.

     

    Satrangi.png SATRANGI showcases India’s musical menagerie by profiling young artists from 13 states and their diverse musical abilities.

     

    Folk forms from Northern parts of India include Maand from colourful Rajasthan; Heer-Ranjha, Jugni, Tappe and Bolian from Punjab; Sufiana Kalam and Bach Naghma from Jammu & Kashmir; Nati from Himachal Pradesh and Rasia, Kajri, Chaiti and Hori from Uttar Pradesh.

     

    The folk forms from the Western region of India are Garba, Raas, Sugam Sangeet and Siddi Dhamal from Gujarat; Lavani, Povada, Bhaleri, Owi, Palane and Artya from Maharashtra and the effervescent folk tunes of Goa.

     

    The Central region of India is rich with folk forms like Nirgun Bhajan, Maach and Bundelkhandi folk songs from Madhya Pradesh and Pandvani from Chhattisgarh.

     

    In the east, musical forms like Janana and Mardana Jhumar and Dhumkuch from Jharkhand and Bhavaiya, Tukkha, Baul and Bhatiali from West Bengal will strike a chord with the audience. Speaking on the show launch, Mr. Subhadarshi Tripathy, Channel Head, ZeeQ, said, “We intend to sensitize children about the diminishing popularity of the folk music and at the same time enhance the musical intelligence in children. SATRANGI is an enthralling journey of music from diverse, traditionally prosperous regions, across India. We are glad to inform and educate children on the rich culture and existing art of India.”

  • ZeeQ now available on Tata Sky

    ZeeQ now available on Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: ZeeQ, the kids channel from Zee group is now also available on Tata Sky; channel no. 627. Accessible under the ‘Supreme Sports Kids’ pack, viewers can enjoy watching ZeeQ with the English and Hindi feed.

     

    ZeeQ caters to the 0-14 year age segment. For the preschool viewers, the channel offers internationally acclaimed shows, such as ‘Dinosaur Train’ and ‘Zou’. Based on extensive research done by an expert panel, ZeeQ chooses internationally recognized programs, which inculcate curiosity among kids to question and learn. Through its association with BBC Worldwide, ZeeQ also showcases a time band of award-winning programs from BBC’s preschool brand — CBeebies. Apart from this, ZeeQ also airs a mix of live action and animated shows. Some of its prominent shows include Science with BrainCafe, Sid the Science Kid, The Weekly Wrap, Dinosaur Train, Zou, M.I. Four – The Multiple Intelligence quiz.     

     

    Commenting on the development, Mr. Subhadarshi Tripathy, Business Head, ZeeQ said, “Our aim is to reach to maximum number of households in India and provide a unique and engaging TV viewing experience to kids and their parents. Based on our philosophy of ‘doing what is right for the child’, our content is carefully chosen under the guidance of early childhood development experts. We are excited to be on Tata Sky.. We take it as our responsibility to offer safe, clean and engaging content that provides edutainment to kids.”

     

    Paolo Agostinelli, Chief Content & Business Development Officer at Tata Sky commented, ”At Tata Sky, we are committed to providing Indian families with world class experience of best content to offer on television. It is not only entertainment but edutainment that we focus on for our young viewers. ZeeQ aims to build essential life skills among children through programs and stories that educate and inform them in a fun, entertaining and engaging manner. We are pleased to offer ZeeQ on our platform adding value to our subscribers.”

     

    Tata Sky offers options for ZeeQ subscription; through Add-On (Kids) packs, which contains 12 popular kid’s channels. Those who wish to make their own pack or take the channel on a-la-carte basis can choose ZeeQ under their ‘make your own pack’ option.