ITV

Tag: Zoom

  • Zoom in rejig mode, adds Bollywood flavour

    Zoom in rejig mode, adds Bollywood flavour

    MUMBAI: Zoom has been primarily associated with Page 3 content on and around celebrities. But now the non-fiction lifestyle and entertainment channel wants to become broadbased and create an urban mass appeal to attract maximum viewership.

    For starters, it has gone completely Hindi from being partially English in its initial stages as it plans to look at a wider audience.

    Zoom has also initiated several activities to create properties around events. Currently focusing more on the entertainment news, they have just relaunched their show Popkorn News in a new form.

    Says Zoom business head M K Anand, “The channel has become more centrist now. Initially, the shows were a little edgy. Today we are the only service filing 200 Bollywood stories per week. With our initiatives like Popkorn News we compete straight with news channels.”

    To extend the entertainment news section, Zoom would be launching a half hour entertainment news-based show in the first quarter of next year. Unlike Popkorn News, this one won’t be pre-recorded but would go live.

    Says Anand, “Currently we don’t have an infrastructure to go live but we certainly plan it for the next year. This will be a big step to further our target to compete with the news channels.”

    The other show Page 3 has also roped in new anchors Supreet Bedi and Pooja Sharma who take the viewers into the world of the most talked about socialites, stars, fashion gurus and corporate big wigs. And Weekend Page 3 is a compilation of week’s parties, events and exhibition.

    “Today there is an inate requirement to look and learn. Peoplr pick up fashion trends and style from a channel like Zoom and with such initiatives we are just staying true to the urban appeal,” says Anand.

    Zoom is looking at gaining distribution. As a strategy to improve sampling, it has introduced 2 se 5, an afternoon slot dedicated completely to movies.

    Talking about this initiative Anand says, ” Movies is just a short time initiative. We don’t plan to do a decibel marketing of movies by acquiring big titles. Its just to improve our viewership. We plan to flash the promos of our shows during the slot so viwers can know more about the shows.”

    For this month, Zoom has lined up movies like Shabd, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and 7 1/2 Phere.

    The coming year would see Zoom engaging in various events. There would be Banoongi Main Miss India in February-March, followed by Zoom Holi party in March and the Zoom Glam awards in March-April.

  • Zoom to launch shows on celebrities and entertainment

    Zoom to launch shows on celebrities and entertainment

    MUMBAI: Lets Talk a celebrity chat show produced by Miditech is scheduled for launch on 19 November at 11:30 am on lifestyle channel Zoom.

    The weekly show will be hosted by RJ and actor Tarana.

    Tarana brings viewers face to face with the Bollywood stars introducing them as personalities behind the famous faces and giving insights into their lives as regular people; not as celebrities.

    Let’s Talk offers a freewheeling chat with film personalities, which gives a peak into their personal lives.

    Miditech says that Lets Talk has been shot in select outdoor locations to create a positive environment and ambience to make the guest comfortable. The show has ingredients of fun, emotions, bonding and laughter with a general feel good factor. The forthcoming episodes of Lets Talk will feature Shreyas Talpade, Amrita Rao and Riya Sen as the celebrity guests.

    Miditech had previously produced Main Hoon for Zoom TV. The programme aired over 100 episodes in two years.

    Meanwhile, as already reported, Zoom will also launch an entertainment news show Popkorn Newz hosted by Barkha Bisht.

    The show will see apperances by stars both from the big and small screen. There will be news, interviews, entertainment trivia as well as in-depth insights on the news stories; from Bollywood to the Indian Tellywood.

  • Zoom launches ‘Popkorn Newz’

    Zoom launches ‘Popkorn Newz’

    MUMBAI: Zoom, India’s lifestyle channel is launching Popkorn Newz, an hourly show which will be aired every Monday to Friday at 7:30 pm with a repeat telecast at 10:30 pm.

    The weekend edition will air on Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 12:30 pm. The show will be hosted by Barkha Bisht.

    The show will cover all the latest happenings, breaking news, scandals from Bollywood, Television, Music, Events, asserts an official release.

    From Bollywood to the Indian Tellywood; from the faces in modeling to the interesting happenings from the world of art and theatre, Popkorn Newz, claims to be an Indian version of E News.

    Weekend Popkorn Newz will provide a round up of the biggest entertainment news in the week with a segment called the Popkorn Rating Points (PRP), which rates the top five most happening celebrities of the week in different categories such as – best dressed, cosiest couple spotted, most seen at parties, adds the release.

  • Priyanka Shah triumphs on Zoom’s ‘Levi’s Diva Quest’

    Priyanka Shah triumphs on Zoom’s ‘Levi’s Diva Quest’

    MUMBAI: In a ceremony at Intercontinental The Grand, Mumbai Priyanka Shah of Pune was declared as the winner of the Levi’s Diva Quest.

    This was a hunt to find an anchor for Zoom.
    The show was judged by a panel of style icons including ace photographer Subi Samuel, makeover specialist and choreographer Achla Sachdev, celebrity tarot-card reader and television host Sunita Menon, ad-film maker Prahlad Kakar, TV host Mini Mathur and fashion designer Rocky S,

    Shah will be the new face of Zoom. She has won herself a 1-year contract to host shows on the channel. Dimple Anand from Delhi and Malvika Rane from Mumbai were chosen as the first and 2nd runner-up respectively. Parmita Katkar from Mumbai won the title of ‘The Worldspace Miss Talented’.

    Diana Hayden and Zoom anchor Siddharth Kannan anchored the event whuch had performances by Anuradha Pal, Anaida, international artists Nic and Nicole as well as a dance performance by Yana Gupta. The contestants walked down the ramp showcasing the D’damas Vivaha collection and special costumes designed by Neeta Lulla after facing the judges with two rounds – ‘2 min of Fame’ – where the beauties exhibited their talent by doing a filler act to get the loudest applause followed by a rapid Q&A round with the judges.

    Attendees at the event included former-Miss India World Sindhura Gadde, the ‘celebrity’ choreographer Hanif Hillal, television actress Kanchi Kaul, choreographer Imam Siddiqui, Nicolo Morea, Rohit Verma, Sherrin Cheroke from the Band of Boys and Page 3 socialite Kishin Mulchandani.

    Levi’s Diva Quest has been a seven episode series which has been airing on Zoom every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pmsince 21 October, 2006. The show is hosted by ramp model and an anchor of Zoom Aparna Kumar. The final episode will be a one-hour special and will air on Zoom on 11 November, 2006 at 9 pm.

    Zoom business head MK Anand said, “Zoom has set highest standards in packaging and presentations on Indian Television ever since its launch where anchors have been an integral part of this. We are now poised to get into the next stage of our life cycle and there are host of new initiatives both in terms of content and marketing that is slated to launch in October-November this year. Diva Quest is a stepping stone in that direction that we have taken. The launch of Levi’s Diva collection couldn’t have been timed better. We are extremely happy to have them as our associates in this endeavor.”

    The Presenting Sponsor for the event is Levi’s Diva Jeans while the Associate Sponsors are D’Damas Vivaah Diamond Jewellery, WorldSpace Radio, Lenovo, Samsung D 900, InterContinental The Grand, Mcdowell Signature & Planet M, and telecom partner for the event is BPL Mobile.

  • Zoom to launch ‘Levis Diva Quest’ on 21 October

    Zoom to launch ‘Levis Diva Quest’ on 21 October

    MUMBAI: In line with the reality show craze on television channels these days, the Times Group’s glamour and lifestyle channel Zoom is launching a reality show the Levi’s Diva Quest.

    The show has been introduced as part of the channel’s revamp strategy. Zoom is on the lookout for the most stylish anchor through the Diva Quest. It is also planning to launch a few more shows over the next one month.

    “We are now poised to get into the next stage of our life cycle and there are a host of new initiatives both in terms of content and marketing slated to launch in October-November this year. Diva Quest is a stepping stone in that direction that we have taken,” says Zoom business head MK Anand.

    The show has been introduced with an aim to hunt for the most stylish anchor for the channel. It would kick off on 21 October. It will be aired on Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm and will be hosted by ramp model Aparna Kumar. 

    This is not the first time Zoom is indulging in the area of glam and glitz. Earlier, it had launched in L’oreal Paris Elite Model Look India 2006, Pond’s Banungi Main Miss India and Red Hot Countdown.

    The 15 shortlisted contenders will be scrutinized by a panel of judges including ace photographer Subi Samuel, makeover specialist and choreographer Achla Sachdev, celebrity tarot-card reader Sunita Menon, ad-man Prahlad Kakar and acclaimed TV host Mini Mathur. 

    From this lot, the contestants would further be wittled down to 10. The grand finale will be held on 29 October at the Intercontinental, Mumbai.

    Talking about the unique selling point (USP) of the show photographer Subi Samuel claimed, “Like other shows, we are not overtaking their personalities and transforming them, we are just grooming them to be able to deal with the glitz and glamour”

  • Laugh it out with Lallan aka Sunil Grover on Weekend Popkorn Laughter Destination on Zoom

    MUMBAI: Zoom, India’s premier glamour and lifestyle channel is all geared up to tickle your funny bone and make laughter your destination through its Weekend Popkorn Laughter Destination Special, all of September.

    This captivating comic bonanza on Zoom promises to be fun unlimited with four of the best known faces of Indian comedy making a serious attempt to anchor this show in their well-known wacky and side-splitting ishtyle!

    The hilarious Suresh Menon; Lallan aka Sunil Grover, popular for his trademark spoofs of leading Bollywood stars; the suave and smart Semi Girebal aka Cyrus Sahukar and the witty Ranvir Sheorey have been on a mission to make you laugh with their zany humour from 2 September to 23 September, every Saturday at 8.00pm.

    This Saturday, 9 September 2006, Zoom will continue its high profile comedy drama with Lallan aka Sunil Grover of the Lallan Chala Hero Ban Ne fame. During the show, while playing a brilliant spoof on Amitabh Bachchan’s remarkable performance in Deewar, Lallan says, “Hamaarey baapu na kabhi hanstey they na hansaatey they iss liye gaanv mein logon ne hamaarey hath pe likh diya ‘Mera Bap Bore Hai’ aur friends is kalank ko mitaaney hum manoranjan ki dunia mein aa gaye’. Besides his other hilarious Bollywood spoofs, witty Lallan asks people “Kya Aap jaantey hain ki koi bhi devta computer kyon nahi seekh paaye???? Kyonki bhaiya MOUSE to ganpati ke paas tha.”

    The Weekend Popkorn Laughter Destination series will ensure that you laugh your heart out every weekend and at the same time get round- up of the best gossip, stories, interviews and reports from the world of television and film for the week.

    So Zoom in this Saturday, 9 September 2006 at 8 p.m. to know the secrets as to how our dear Munna Bhai MBBS who does an X Ray for people without the X Ray machine, all this and much more with the lovable Lallan?

  • Zoom’s ‘Weekend Popkorn Laughter…’ kicks off on 2 Septmeber

    Zoom’s ‘Weekend Popkorn Laughter…’ kicks off on 2 Septmeber

    MUMBAI: Zoom, glamour and lifestyle channel will up the humour quotient starting 2 September 2006, with the new Weekend Popkorn Laughter Destination Special series.

    Four comedians will set the mood and will be on a mission to make you laugh with their zany humour every Saturday from the 2 to 23 September at 8 pm.

    This comic bonanza on Zoom promises to be fun unlimited with four of the best known faces of Indian comedy making a serious attempt to anchor this show in their well-known wacky and side-splitting ishtyle!

    The hosts include the hilarious Suresh Menon; Lallan aka Sunil Grover, popular for his trademark spoofs of leading Bollywood stars; the suave and smart Semi Girebal aka Cyrus Sahukar and the witty Ranvir Sheorey.

    Suresh Menon will be loaded with his jokes, spoofs on some of the best known names in tinsel town, swirling to the tunes of the famous Nagin dance and even doing a little stint of dumb-charades, his favourite game!

  • Zoom launches L’Oreal Paris Elite Model Look 2006

    Zoom launches L’Oreal Paris Elite Model Look 2006

    MUMBAI: The lifestyle and glamour channel Zoom has announced its latest client led initiative – The L’Oreal Paris Elite Model Look 2006. The event saw the official launch of the model hunt platform in India and unveiling of the logo at The Leela Kempinski in Mumbai.

    The announcement of the Indian leg of the international model hunt was made by the panel comprising Zoom business head MK Anand, L’Oreal Consumer Products division (India) director Phillippe Raffray, Elite India CEO Sushma Puri and reigning Miss India-Universe 2006 Neha Kapoor.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Zoom business head MK Anand says, “We will be airing a 10 episode series that takes a look at the reality shoot at the training sessions at Goa and the finale. A large part of the reality show is going to be produced by the internal team at Zoom and we are looking at finalizing a production house for the grand finale. It will depend on whether the finale will be a standard one or have a complete international template.

    “Plus, being movers in the lifestyle glamour space, we do not want any other channels getting in to this space and are looking at blocking all such similar events. Here, we are looking to marketing this event in a big way. L’Oreal has been advertising with us since the beginning so we are happy to bring this property to them and vice versa. Additionally, this also helps us get exclusive access to content on the behind the scenes reality show,” says Anand.

    Adding that the Times Group had in the mid -1990’s held the Elite hunt and the winners then – Ujwala Raut and Sheetal Malhar – have got global recognition, Anand says, “We got in to a different trajectory with the reality series Bannungi Main Miss India and with this event, we hope to consolidate our position. With our tie up with L’Oreal, we are hoping to throw up the next Indian modeling superstar through this hunt.”

    Giving details of the hunt, Anand says, “The auditions will be held between 2 to 9 September. Twenty girls will be chosen and sent to Goa for a complete training and fitness programme from 12 to 17 September. The finale is on 18 September and the first episode will be aired a week later.”

    All the grooming sessions will be held at The Leela Palaces & Resorts, which is the official venue sponsor for the event. Fitness expert Leena Mogre will be monitoring the sessions in Goa.

    Commenting on the association with the event, Raffray said, “Beauty is a core part of our business and we see this event as a fantastic opportunity for fresh modeling talent in India to the forefront. Our association with Elite, one of the most prestigious modeling networks and Zoom, India’s glamorous lifestyle channel creates a unique showcase for contemporary Indian beauty.”

    “The Elite Model Look is a platform for young Indians girls to get international recognition. We will be scouting for talent in six cities across India. The winner will represent India in the finals of the L’Oreal Paris Elite Model Look 2006, to be held in Thailand,” says Puri.

    Diamond jewellery firm Ira is an associate sponsor to the event.

  • Zoom attempts comedy with Santa & Banta Unlimited; to air 10 July

    Zoom attempts comedy with Santa & Banta Unlimited; to air 10 July

    MUMBAI: The original Indian rap king Baba Saigal and popular RJ Siddharth Kannan team up to entertain viewers with Zoom’s first comic bonanza, Santa & Banta Unlimited. This new show aims to redefine ‘time pass viewing’, with it’s two hosts Siddharth Kannan aka Santa and Baba Saigal aka Banta.

    The one thing that the duo is confident about is that they just come on sets to have a whole load of fun to create a zara hatke comical show that will deliver everything from topical news, lifestyle issues, film reviews, TV gags of other shows, parties, call ins for “love” problems and other Gyaan, in true Santa Banta style, which is a comical rhapsody, witty repartees and award winning one liners.

    Joking about his rapport with Baba, Kannan remarks with his trademark tongue-in-cheek twist, “We are like a husband and wife team. But we haven’t figured who is the husband and who is the wife. We are two contrasting people with a zest for life. As people in Mumbai would say, we are truly bindaas.”

    “Anchoring is a part of me. It has a different kick, different popularity and a different feedback,” says Baba about his experience. “I have known Siddharth since the past 12 years. We’ve developed a great chemistry and that will be evident on-screen.”

  • Vikram Thukral appointed as VP distribution for Times Now and Zoom

    Vikram Thukral appointed as VP distribution for Times Now and Zoom

    MUMBAI: Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd. (BCCL) has fused the distribution team of the two channels Zoom and Times Now to drive in penetration and bring in revenues. The distribution will be overseen by the newly appointed VP- distribution Vikram Thukral.

    Thukral fills in the space vacated by Hitesh Sabharwal who was handling the distribution aspect of Zoom.

    Vikram Thukral will be reporting to the Times Now CEO Sunil Lulla and Zoom CEO Suresh Bala respectively. At Star, Thukral has led each of the regions of east, north and west expanding Star’s household reach and earning significant revenues from distribution, informs an official release.

    And the distribution teams of both the pay channels; the glamour and lifestyle channel Zoom and the English news channel Times Now will be reporting into Thukral.

    In a joint statement issued, Bala and Lulla stated, “We welcome Vikram’s leadership and believe both channels will be served better with combined efforts, in growing each channel’s household reach.”

    Over the next few weeks, both channel teams will be integrated for a common customer facing team. Time Now is owned by Times Global Broadcasting (A Times Group & Reuters Company) and Zoom is fully owned by Bennett Coleman & CO Ltd.