ITV

Tag: Zoom

  • Salil Kulkarni joins Zoom as regional head, West Zone, sales

    Salil Kulkarni joins Zoom as regional head, West Zone, sales

    MUMBAI: Salil Kulkarni has been roped in as the regional head, West Zone, sales by Zoom Entertainment Network.

    Kulkarni will look after all revenue aspects for the region including FCT and special projects for the Bollywood entertainment channel. He will report into Zoom VP-sales Hersh Bhandari.

    “I am delighted to be part of the Zoom family. The channel epitomises Bollywood in its truest sense and it will be a pleasure to be part of the success story of Zoom,” Kulkarni said.

    Prior to Zoom, he was with Sri Adhikari Brothers‘ music channel Masti, handling sales for Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad regions. He has also worked on the group‘s Hindi regional channels – Dabangg and Dhamaal.

    Earlier, he has worked with Business Standard, Business World and NDTV Media.

  • Hersh Bhandari joins Zoom as head of sales

    Hersh Bhandari joins Zoom as head of sales

    MUMBAI: Zoom Entertainment, the Bollywood entertainment and lifestyle channel from Times Television Network has roped in Hersh Bhandari as the head of sales.

    Bhandari was earlier with Shri Adhikari Brothers as their business head.

    Zoom Entertainment Networks CEO Avinash Kaul confirms the development to Indiantelevision.com.

    Bhandari comes with over 14 years experience out of which he spent eight years in media – sales and marketing. He had joined Sab Group in 2010.

    He has also worked with Channel [V].

  • Blackberrys launches new TVC with the theme of ‘Go Sharp’

    Blackberrys launches new TVC with the theme of ‘Go Sharp’

    MUMBAI: The apparel brand Blackberrys has launched a new TV commercial that aims to bring to life the “Go Sharp” philosophy of the refurbished brand.


    The TVC is created by McCann Worldgroup TAG Ideation. It reiterates Blackberrys‘ position as a fashion brand.
     
    “Set in a surreal world, our protagonist is seen playfully dodging the paparazzi as soon as he adorns his Blackberrys. The geometric figures and the device of them getting slashed, even through an accidental touch by him, reiterate how everything is ‘cut to size‘ before our protagonist,” Blackberrys spokesperson said.


    The TVC also establishes a “near perfect consistency” with the still campaign. The international fashion looks and the Indian twist perfectly blends in to reflect the brand as well as audience.


    The company has also made a 3- minute Blackberrys music track.
     
    The company has identified that its TG is as much in metros, tier 1 as they are in tier 2 cities. “We also recognize the growing potential of the tier 2 market segment. Therefore, our choice of genres and channels have been basis this understanding of our audiences,” the company said.


    It is using various genres for TV promotions including movies, general entertainment, English and Hindi news, Hindi entertainment etc.


    “We will be present on the leading channels in each of these genres, some of which are NDTV India, AXN, Zee Business, NDTV Good Times, Max, Zoom, Discovery Network, CNBC TV 18, Awaaz, CNN IBN, IBN7, Star Movies, Zee Studio, Zee Café, NDTV 24 X 7, Times Now, and Star News,” the spokesperson said.

  • Pix awards media duties to MediaVest and Zoom Advertising

    Pix awards media duties to MediaVest and Zoom Advertising

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media‘s (MSM) English movie channel Pix has shifted its media mandate from OMD to MediaVest and Zoom Advertising.

    Media Vest will handle television and radio while Zoom Advertising will look after print.

    The reason behind having two agencies was to segregate the media planing business based on their expertise, said a channel spokesperson.

    It has been learnt that seven agencies were in the fray.

    MediaVest, Mumbai VP Dinesh Rathore said, “We intend to drive the channel to a leadership position in the English genre with our human experience strategy framework and hardnosed analytics, and thereby providing simple, real-time and meaningful solutions. We are excited to be working with the brand and believe that this partnership will translate into a success story for the brand.”

    Zoom Advertising proprietor Chirag R Barasia added, “We are excited in bagging their print AOR and media buying duties which is a challenge and an opportunity for us to connect them to wider print options. We are positive on our media buying capabilities and thus we will strive hard to ensure Pix achieves significant progress and success in their print portfolios. Similarly, Pix has given us a big boost to venture out in exploring and implementing other media opportunities for them and our other client.”

  • ‘The Merrill Lynch deal has given us a Rs 5 billion valuation’ : MK Anand – Zoom business head

    ‘The Merrill Lynch deal has given us a Rs 5 billion valuation’ : MK Anand – Zoom business head

    After selling 25 per cent stake to Merrril Lynch for Rs 1.25 billion, Zoom is gearing up for more programme launches to race ahead of competition that has arrived in the form Showbiz and E24.

     

    Targeting upscale audiences, the channel from the Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL) Group has increased its dosage of Bollywood-centric prime time content with a slate of new shows. Aided by a rise in ratings, Zoom is eyeing a revenue of Rs 1 billion this fiscal.

     

    In an interview with Indiantelevision.com’s Richa Dubey, Zoom business head MK Anand discusses the growth track of the channel and the need to push the Bollywood genre of content across different markets through the syndication route.

     

    Excerpts:

    Has Zoom Entertainment Network (ZEN) diluted 25 per cent stake to Merrill Lynch for Rs 1.25 billion?
    We got a valuation of Rs 5 billion when Merrill Lynch bought this stake in around May-June. We are utilising this amount to develop stronger content for the channel. Some of the new shows are already launched and we will gradually unveil a few more.

    Will you also not spend more on distribution as channels are finding it difficult to find space on choked analogue cable networks?
    We are content with our present distribution. We will be utilising the money only for new programmes.

    Why has Zoom shifted gear to Bollywood-centric shows?
    Getting viewers closer to celebrity life was the whole idea on which Zoom was launched. The metamorphosis happened when we realised that ‘celebrity’ as a word in India is congruent with Bollywood.

     

    Originally when we started, we were showing programmes based on popular influential people from all walks of life (corporate, sports, page 3). As we went along, we had to change and make it a Bollywood-centric channel because that is what people whom we target want to see. We tried to make the channel more holistic from the Bollywood point of view by showing many related things.

     

    Even our lifestyle shows are centred arround Bollywood. We will, for instance, not have a cookery show. But if a Bollywood actor likes some particular food, then we will show him cooking something. So we will always look for a Bollywood element in whatever we show.

    Was this metamorphosis dictated by the generic revenue limitations of a lifestyle channel?
    The lifestyle content on Zoom was always negligible compared to the glamour factor.

     

    Our programming budgets have definitely doubled over last year as our offerings have increased. Other than short form of content, we are now getting into longer formats which cost more.

     

    But it is also important to note that we operationally broken even last year. This has happened in just three years of our existence!

    Have advertisers been more supportive after Zoom shifted to a Bollywood-centric channel?
    When we launched, an advertiser could not classify us in any category because we were the first ones in the space. But now we have been substantially increasing our rates even while other channels were dropping theirs. This has been possible because we have an ad sales team which is bigger than what a channel of this size would normally have. As a group we are very ad-focussed.

     

    Our inventory is sold out. Some 300 clients must be active every year. We would be having 15-20 exclusive deals.
    ‘When we started, we were showing programmes based on popular people from all walks of life. As we went along, we made it a Bollywood-centric channel because that is what people whom we target want to see‘

    What is your revenue target this year?
    We are targeting Rs 1 billion this fiscal (August-July period). This is after taking into account revenues through ads, video ads and content syndication that we do with other broadcasters.

    Whom does Zoom compare with when you pitch to clients?
    We normally compare ourselves with Star Movies, MTV, HBO and 9XM.

     

    These are the players focussed on this TG (target group) – SEC AB 1 million+ in the age group 15-34.

    What are the positioning changes Zoom has undergone ever since its launch?
    The Times of India Group as a whole has affinity with the urban upscale English speaking audiences. That has always been the Group’s focus. Similarly when it came to TV, we decided not to go for a mass channel and invest heavily in it. Instead, we thought of launching something for the particular audience we have affinity with.

     

    So we launched a channel catering to 1 million+ cities of India. Our weekly reach has gone up from 15-20 per cent in mid-2006 to 36 per cent this year.

     

    As a brand we promised to deliver glamour and we have done that successfully. In terms of brand proposition, we have evolved in terms of our offerings.

    How do you see Bollywoood evolving as a genre?
    Bollywood shows are still evolving as a genre. It is the most popular content, after fiction shows and movies. Even news channels have special shows centred arround Bollywood.

     

    We position ourselves as a generic channel for Bollywood.

    How does Zoom source content?
    We have a reporting team of about 40 people. They continuously shoot and get stories on Bollywood related stuff which is archived. That is the main store for us and we take footage from there and develop shows.

     

    Our in house team uses them to produce shows like Zabar 10, Planet Bollywood. Besides, we also have external production houses which make shows for us. Bollywood Club is done by Optimystix, Bollywood Case Files is done by Moving Pictures Company. We give our archived stuff to them as well.

    What is the movie acquisition strategy?
    For the movies that we telecast, we acquire them from other channels or producers for limited airings.

    What is the prime time on Zoom?
    Advertisers identify prime time from 5 pm in the evening till 1 am. But from the viewers point of view, it lasts from 7 pm – 9:30 pm, the time band where we have launched our new shows. Our core prime time would be 8-9 pm where we will launch stronger shows.

    Zoom also provides shows to other channels. How strong is this business?
    Yes, we do shows for other channels. We have realised that the bank that we have is more than what we can use. So why not commercially exploit our content further?

     

    We have not approached any Hindi channel, but we have some channels in the regional space who use our content. We have given our shows to ETV and Sun Network.

     

    We also have two deals in Pakistan. We are doing a one-hour show for Safron TV in South Africa.
    Will this not kill the exclusivity element on your channel?
    Zoom enjoys more channel loyality as far as Bollywood content is concerned. We have a first mover advantage in the genre. We also have exclusive coverage. Besides, we can leverage exclusive tie ups which Bombay Times has with others.

    What are the digital initiatives Zoom has undertaken?
    We are looking at opportunities in the digital space. Our channel is made up of short form of content. Say three stories of four minutes each are clubbed in a half-hour episode. If we unstring these episodes and put these videos on internet, they become easy to download.

     

    These small videos are more popular than the longer format due to lower streaming capacity in India. We unbundle the entire episode and put these videos on our site.

     

    For further promoting them, we have started putting these videos on other websites. We realised that there was an opportunity in syndicating Bollywood content. This has, in fact, increased traffic on our video online content.

     

    Realising the importance of this, we are looking at synergies now. We have an ad sales deal with these websites. We also promote our other shows through these videos. This makes the marketing of our shows easier and consumption increases.

    Which are these websites?
    Rediff iShare, Yahoo, Youtube and Nautanki TV. They have good traffic and for us they become a platform to share our shows.

     

    We have an ad sales contract with all of them.
    How big a challenge is distribution?
    Distribution is key to the business. But since we also have the consumer pull factor, cable operators will find it difficult to dislodge us from their networks. The Bollywood genre is also expanding with other channel launches. In another 18 months, we can expect the genre to develop and be widely accepted.
  • Zoom adds movies to prime time slot

    Zoom adds movies to prime time slot

    MUMBAI: Zoom, the Times Group’s glamour and lifestyle Hindi entertainment channel, has crafted a movie band called Zoom Theatres. The movie band between 9 p.m to 12 midnight will showcase hits from Bollywood everyday.

    Although the channel began airing movies from last month, it was in the afternoon band and was called Do Se Paanch. The channel has now rescheduled its programmes in the evening time slot.It has also repackaged this slot and called it Zoom Theatres.In the 7 to 9 pm slot in the evening, the channel will air its premier shows and the post 9 pm slot will have the channel air movies like Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein & Joggers Park to Shabd & Chameli. Earlier this slot featured repeats of the premier shows.

    With its latest feature the channel promises to bring the latest in Bollywood from romantic comedies, crossover movies to art films.

  • Zoom surges ahead of the competition

    MUMBAI: Zoom, India’s premier glamour and entertainment news channel from the BCCL stable, has overtaken the competition across 6 Metros among C&S AB 15-44 Yrs audience, and broken into the top 10 viewed channels in the 2nd week of January 2007 as per TAM media research.

    Zoom started the year on a high note with an increase of 63% GRP’s in the 6 metros over the last quarter of 2006. In the Hindi speaking markets (HSM), it has shown a notable increase of 32%. The growth of over 55% among C&S Males SEC AB 25+ (purchase decision makers), is a significant development, which makes it a serious contender across many media plans.

    The growth can be attributed to the improvement in the channel’s placement, across distribution networks nationally supported by intensive marketing efforts and improved content.

    The channel’s move towards the entertainment news format and decidedly Bollywood slant has made it appealing to more and more people. The recently launched movie slot in the evening is garnering better prime time ratings for the channel.

  • Zoom adds ‘Bollywood Laffs’ to humour quotient

    Zoom adds ‘Bollywood Laffs’ to humour quotient

    MUMBAI: Lifestyle channel Zoom kicks off a new comedy show Haff Hour Laff Hour on 26 January 2007 at 8:30 pm.

    Stand-up comedian Sajid Khan will host the show along with impersonator Suresh Menon. This show is a complete stand-up comical rhapsody with the funny twosome taking viewers on a laughter trip disguised as Bollywood, cricket, music personalities and celebrities from the entertainment world.

    Right from spoofing celebrity interviews, to reviewing Bollywood movies in their witty style, the hosts will give viewers their expert fake-take on the latest news trends, fashion, politicians and celebrities who are in the news for all kinds of reasons.

    Sajid says, “This association with Zoom is turning out to be a fabulous experience. We hope to offer a fresh twist to comedy via the show”.
     

  • Zoom’s Maximum style presents ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’ special

    MUMBAI: With expectations soaring for the soon-to-release Salaam-e-Ishq, Zoom gives you an opportunity to know your favourite stars up close and personal in the Salaam-e-Ishq special on Maximum Style, on Thursday, January 18th, 2007 at 8.30 p.m, on Zoom, India’s premier lifestyle and glamour Hindi entertainment news channel.

    Who better to introduce you to the star cast than the vivacious Ayesha Takia herself as she makes her anchoring debut as Maximum Style’s special host. The show will give its viewers a glimpse into the real and reel life of the star cast of the movie including Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Anil Kapoor, Ishaa Koppikar, Akshayye Khanna, Govinda and Shannon.

     

    Ayesha will test her interviewing skills with Vikram Phadnis, the man behind Salaam e Ishq’s styling, to talk about the character briefs and his styling for each of these, working with the demanding Nikhil Advani and catering to the myriad whims and fancies of such a wide star cast. The show-stopping star studded fashion show at the music release of Salaam-e-Ishq will be another attraction of this special episode.

     

    Tune in to Zoom on January 18th at 8.30 p.m. to watch this star-studded Maximum Style Salaam-e-Ishq special!

  • Zoom lines up New Year specials

    Zoom lines up New Year specials

    MUMBAI: Zoom has lined up a series of specials this New Year with the best of the past. It is offering a complete bonanza of sorts with shows like Maximum Style, Popkorn Newz, Page 3, Santa and Banta Unlimited and more.

    Maximum Style, will take a tour of the trends that ruled the ramp in 2006 in the New year special episode on 29 December at 8:30 pm.

    The New Year special episode will give an insight into the trends that the fashion guru’s predict for the coming season.

    Popkorn Newz will focus on the the top ten Bollywood controversies of the year: from Ash-Abhishek marriage rumours to Aamir’s Fanaa controversy. Popkorn Newz New Year special will also bring to light the trivia of Rakhi- Mika fight.

    The Best of Popkorn Newz, the new year special episode, will be aired on 30 December at 8 pm and will also showcase the controversy of Ekta kapoor boycotting Indian Television Awards.

    Page 3 New Year special will be a recollection of the exclusive news and controversies of the year 2006. The Best of Page 3 will air on 30 December at 7 pm and will bring minute by minute account of the the biggest of superstar wars from Salman- John’s rift to Amitabh- Shah Rukh’s stand-off.

    Santa and Banta Unlimited, Zoom’s foray into comedy, will bring the top five interviews of 2006 on the show. The special interviews of Bappi Lahiri, Shaan, Chunkey Pandey, Arjun Rampal and Riya Sen with Siddharth Kannan and Baba Saigal will be aired on 1 January at 8:30 pm.