Authors
Condé Nast Digital Day: Connecting luxury, brands and consumers?blur=25

The Condé Nast Group organised the ‘Condé Nast Digital Day’ in Mumbai on November 25, 2010, which showcased how luxury brands could effectively use the digital medium to connect with consumers. The event saw digital experts presenting case studies and statistics to show how certain brands have used the online medium successfully.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 26, 2010 7:30 AM

Imagine takes calculated risks to strengthen its fiction time band?blur=25

Imagine has been strong with its non-fiction shows, be it ‘Rakhi Ka Swayamvar’ or ‘Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka’, the latest being ‘Rakhi Ka Insaaf’. Now, the channel is trying to create the same strong base with its fiction shows. It is a tough act to follow, as Saurabh Tewari, Head of Fiction, Imagine, shares the channel’s fiction strategy.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 25, 2010 1:56 PM

Zoom Entertainment Network appoints Avinash Kaul as CEO?blur=25

Avinash Kaul has joined Times Television Network as Chief Executive Officer of Zoom Entertainment Network Limited. Prior to this, for a brief period, Kaul was the CEO of SaharaOne where he headed three channels - SaharaOne, Filmy and Firangi. Kaul has 12 years of experience in the television business and has worked with channels such as SaharaOne and NDTV Media.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 23, 2010 8:45 AM

Star Plus takes viewers down memory lane on World TV Day?blur=25

Star Plus lined up a day-long marathon of some of its milestone shows such as ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’, ‘Kasauti Zindagi Ki’, ‘Nach Baliye’ and ‘Baa, Bahu Aur Baby’ on the occasion of World TV Day on November 21, 2010.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 23, 2010 7:33 AM

MTV Channel Head Aditya Swamy on how social media is paying rich dividends?blur=25

MTV has been trying out quite a few experimentations over the years – be it in content, promotions or initiatives. The channel had even aired Hindi movies. But what has worked out really well for the channel is its foray into the social media space. In a chat with exchange4emedia, MTV Channel Head Aditya Swamy talks about the channel’s growth, failures and everything in between.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 19, 2010 7:39 AM

Morning time band is like a ‘filler’ for GECs, say media experts?blur=25

The morning time band probably contributes the least amount of audience to a GEC. Media planners point out that this time band is more like a ‘filler’ time band for GECs right now, although it has the potential to garner more audience if the channels innovate with the content.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 12, 2010 7:06 AM

Imagine and Rakhi Sawant: A perfect couple??blur=25

Imagine and Rakhi Sawant have partnered for three shows so far, the first being ‘Rakhi Ka Swayamvar’, followed by ‘Pati, Patni aur Woh’. The latest one, ‘Rakhi Ka Insaaf’, sees Rakhi playing the role of a peacemaker. Media planners give their take on this relationship between the channel and Rakhi.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 3, 2010 8:35 AM

And Star Plus experiments with the 11.30 pm band again?blur=25

As of now, Star Plus is the clear leader in the Hindi GE space and the channel has just launched a new show in the 11.30pm time band. The show, 'Maryada - Aakhir Kab Tak' has just been on air for a couple of weeks and media professionals give their take on this time band and the sort of audience the channel can expect.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 1, 2010 3:47 PM

Star World flags off third season of 'Koffee with Karan'?blur=25

The show Koffee with Karan has been quite popular among viewers. Now Star World, will start the third season on November 7th, 2010. The hour long show will have ample repeats over the week on Star Plus and Star One as well.

Khushboo Tanna Nov 1, 2010 8:49 AM

Zee Talkies plans a fresh positioning?blur=25

After three years of operation, Zee Talkies, the Marathi Movie channel by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, will have a fresh positioning. The new tagline ‘Aapla Talkies, Zee Talkies’ will be unveiled on November 13th, 2010. The channel will also undertake an eight week marketing campaign to promote their new positioning.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 29, 2010 8:36 AM

Placing suitable focus on the digital medium: Microsoft Advertising’s Rich Media Rocks?blur=25

Rich Media Rocks is an initiative by Microsoft Advertising where participants can gain insights into digital marketing and specifically for the online video advertising platform. The first set of speakers included Microsoft’s Neville Taraporewalla, comScore’s Joe Nguyen and Anant Joshi from Media Mind.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 27, 2010 8:30 AM

Google India launches online music service?blur=25

This service will allow users to stream and hear Hindi Bollywood songs and for this Google has partnered with three companies- In.com, Saavn and Saregama. Google Music is a Google Labs product which means that it is still an experimental project.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 27, 2010 8:23 AM

KBC is fine but the future would be from fiction: N P Singh on Sony’s roadmap?blur=25

N P Singh has been with Multi Screen Media (MSM) for over 11 years now. Working across various functions, to now being the COO, he has seen many ups and downs of the company. While Singh has faced some tough questions in the recent past, he is all smiles now with flagship channel Sony Entertainment Television taking some positive strides. In a conversation with exchange4media, he elaborates further...

Khushboo Tanna Oct 25, 2010 8:26 AM

Turner to increase investments in digital?blur=25

Turner International is set to experiment some more with digital. The media corporate has decided to increase its digital spends. Turner officials also informed that digital media would work as an alternate source of revenue for the group.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 22, 2010 12:22 PM

MSM channels Max and Sab refresh brand promise; launch new campaigns?blur=25

Multi Screen Media's movie channel Max has refreshed its brand positioning of ‘Deewana Bana De’ to celebrate 11th anniversary. MSM's second Hindi GEC Sab too has also launched a campaign ‘Ab Bache Bache ko Pata Hai ki Asli Mazaa Sab Ke Sath Aata Hai’ to re-emphasise its positioning.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 22, 2010 8:45 AM

Masterchef opens with a 2.59 TVR?blur=25

Out of the three big budget reality shows that were slated to launch in the month of October, MasterChef India was the last one to join the ratings race. ‘Bigg Boss 4’ was the first to go, followed by ‘Kaun Bangega Crorepati’. For media Planners, the opening 2.59 TVR is “decent”.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 21, 2010 8:34 AM

GEC Afternoons : Game changer or Safe bet??blur=25

It’s almost a given that television is the domain of women (housewives, actually) in the afternoons and it is something that they tune into as a break from their daily routines. Hindi GECs have been long aware of this and belt out content that would keep the average viewer interested and coming back for more. But what are the sort of shows that would work in this time band? Will drama based soaps still rule in this time band?

Khushboo Tanna Oct 20, 2010 8:30 AM

Bigg Boss, KBC, MasterChef... Let the 9.00 pm reality-show war begin?blur=25

The much anticipated reality shows war has finally begun. ‘Bigg Boss’ – Season 4 opened well for Colors and ‘KBC’, again in its fourth season on Sony, managed a good launch for the channel. As the industry waits to see what MasterChef does for Star Plus, media planners give their views on the 9.00 pm war between Bigg Boss and KBC.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 18, 2010 10:40 PM

MSM likely to launch a music channel by mid-December?blur=25

MSM is set to expand its channel bouquet with the addition of a new 24-hour music channel. The proposed channel is likely be launched by mid-December. Meanwhile, planners have mixed reviews on the launch of a new music channel and how it will affect the Hindi music genre.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 15, 2010 8:16 AM

After a promising start, ‘Bigg Boss 4’ slips in ratings; planners still optimistic?blur=25

‘Bigg Boss 4’ had managed a good opening with 4.8 TVR (C&S, 4+, HSM), however ratings of the subsequent episodes have seen a slide. Planners remain upbeat about the show and say it’s an established property and will settle down towards stable ratings.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 14, 2010 8:51 AM

Colors experiments with scheduling for movie premiers?blur=25

Movie premieres have been paying rich dividends to Hindi GECs. Colors, which recently premiered ‘Once upon a time in Mumbaai’, took the unusual step of airing the movie twice on the same day at two different time slots. It remains to be seen whether other channels will follow suit…

Khushboo Tanna Oct 12, 2010 8:17 AM

... as ‘Bigg Boss 4’ pips the Games to the ratings post?blur=25

‘Bigg Boss 4’ pulled it off with its very first episode, which clashed with the telecast of the CWG opening ceremony. The reality show’s debut with Salman Khan as host beat the Games’ opening ceremony ratings hands down.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 11, 2010 8:06 AM

‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ Season 3 records lowest ever finale rating?blur=25

‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’, which had been witnessing drop in ratings after a good beginning, couldn’t recover even in its final episode, which got the lowest TVR in the past three seasons.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 7, 2010 8:33 AM

Cartoon Network plays around 10.10.10 for ‘Ben 10’?blur=25

To promote the new series of ‘Ben 10’, Cartoon Network has tied up with Cadbury’s and McDonalds to reach out to the consumers. Even in the online space, the channel is going all out to reach out to its core audience by letting them create a party kit around the popular cartoon character.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 5, 2010 8:34 AM

STAR One plans aggressive growth; aims to double GRPs in 6 months?blur=25

STAR One has its task carved out – right from launching no less than six new shows in the next few months to doubling its GRPs, the second GEC from STAR India it is all set to reclaim its lost glory. Nikhil Mirchandani shares the channel’s journey so far.

Khushboo Tanna Oct 1, 2010 11:06 AM

After a positive first week, ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ records drop in ratings?blur=25

Following a positive opening week with a weekly average of 4.36 TVR, Colors’ reality show ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ has settled on a weekly average of 2.72 in the subsequent two weeks. Media planners and buyers speak on reasons for the decline trend for the show.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 30, 2010 8:38 AM

The reality show war goes musical?blur=25

With big budget reality shows like ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 4’, ‘Bigg Boss 4’ and ‘Masterchef India’ lined up, GECs are making a lot of song and dance about them, literally. Spicing up the programme promotions are music videos featuring the superstar hosts – Salman Khan (‘Bigg Boss 4’) and Akshay Kumar (‘Masterchef India’).

Khushboo Tanna Sep 28, 2010 8:15 AM

Mastiii stays on top for 6 weeks in a row; starts airing ads?blur=25

Keeping up with its initial promise, Mastiii, the music and entertainment channel from Sri Adhikari Brothers, has managed to top this genre for six consecutive weeks on the back of its mix of Hindi music and comedy. Though initially ad-free, the channel has now signed up a host of advertisers.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 27, 2010 8:12 AM

Sony pulls out all stops for ‘KBC 4’; 4-phased campaign well underway?blur=25

Sony Entertainment Television is leaving no stone unturned to fight its way ahead in the GEC race. The channel is looking at ‘KBC 4’ as a prime property to boost its ratings and has gone all out to promote the game show. Danish Khan, Head - Marketing, Sony Entertainment Television, shares more on the marketing plans for ‘KBC 4’ with exchange4media.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 27, 2010 8:11 AM

Reporter’s Diary: The week that was! Viral, Zandu Balm and meetings?blur=25

The past week has been a tumultuous one for exchange4media Senior Correspondent Khushboo Tanna, who was laid low due to viral fever. But now she is back with verve and recaps some interesting developments in the past week and the hectic times ahead for the broadcast sector.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 25, 2010 7:59 AM

Zoom set for a ‘dhamaka’ facelift by year-end?blur=25

Zoom, the Bollywood channel from the Times Group which has completed six years, plans to sport a younger and peppier look by the end of the year. The channel may also venture into new spaces surrounding Bollywood in the near future.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 21, 2010 8:24 AM

Airtel Champions League gets mixed reviews from planners?blur=25

IPL has become the largest cricketing event in the country and other tournaments have had a tough time matching up to it. The ratings of the first set of matches for the Airtel Champions League have been released and while it is evident that the ratings do not match up to the ratings of the IPL matches, media planners give their take on the ratings.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 20, 2010 8:03 AM

Imagine to focus on male protagonists; beefs up fiction line-up too?blur=25

Imagine has continuously innovated with its non-fiction line-up, which has gained popularity among viewers. Now, the channel is revamping its fiction line-up and is launching two new shows. Contrary to most channels, Imagine intends to set a trend by launching shows with a strong male protagonist.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 10, 2010 7:57 AM

‘3 Idiots’ continues to work its charm, gets 6 TVR for Max?blur=25

After taking the big screen by storm, ‘3 Idiots’ has been giving a blockbuster performance on television too. The movie’s airings on Sony as well as Max have pretty much garnered the highest numbers in the recent past. Though there are mixed views on the type of numbers that the movie will receive on subsequent airings, ‘3 Idiots’ has been ‘paisa vasool’ for everyone.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 10, 2010 7:54 AM

English entertainment genre will become more niche: Media observers?blur=25

While the English entertainment genre is still a niche one, the introduction of three new channels from the newly formed BIG CBS is expected to increase the viewership. Though the older players will probably lose out on some percentage of their viewership with the arrival of these channels, media planners feel there is scope for such niche channels as brands can find a perfect fit with their target audience.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 9, 2010 7:49 AM

IMC 2010: Set IRS aside and invest on capturing quantitative & intangible effect on readers, Lynn de Souza tells magazine players?blur=25

Bringing the advertiser’s perspective to the magazine story, Lynn de Souza, Chairperson and CEO, Lintas Media Group, presented a Masterclass session on ‘What advertisers want from Magazine Brands? ROI in 2011’. Her presentation was followed by a panel discussion involving industry leaders such as Tarun Rai, R Gowthaman, Ashish Bhasin, LV Krishnan and Debasis Mitra along with De Souza, who highlighted the concerns of this industry and what were the key things that the publishers should focus on.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 8, 2010 7:51 AM

Sony tests new time band with YRF repeats; plans to launch 2 more YRF shows?blur=25

The coming together of Multi Screen Media (MSM) and Yash Raj Films (YRF) had generated much excitement. However, the debut was below expectation and the five youth-centric YRF shows failed to garner the desired numbers. Now, MSM is gearing to launch the second tranche of YRF shows by the year-end, while continuing with repeats in a new time band.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 8, 2010 7:46 AM

IMC 2010: Alternate revenue streams like events & digital are expected to grow – E&Y report?blur=25

The two-day Indian Magazine Congress, organised by the Association of Indian Magazines (AIM) in Mumbai, also saw the unveiling of a report on the state of the Indian magazine industry by Ernst & Young. The report addresses some of the key problems of this industry, including the need for a proper measurement metric system and the need to firm up the distribution network, among others.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 7, 2010 8:13 AM

IMC 2010: Raghu Menon stresses on freedom of the press; highest growth will happen in regional markets, says Aroon Purie?blur=25

The two-day Indian Magazine Congress commenced in Mumbai on September 6, 2010 with the opening address by I&B Secretary Raghu Menon and keynote addresses by India Today Group’s Aroon Purie and Nicholas Brett of BBC Worldwide Magazines. Organised by the Association of Indian Magazines (AIM), the over arching aim of the event is to understand the loopholes in the functioning of the industry and how to overcome them and finding out ‘What’s the next big thing’ is in magazines.

Khushboo Tanna Sep 7, 2010 8:00 AM

Emvies 2010: Mudra climbs to No. 3, Lodestar and Madison Media Infinity follow?blur=25

While the top two agencies - Mindshare and Maxus - have firmly rooted themselves in the top two spots, the status quo was upset when Mudra Max replaced Madison and jumped to the No. 3 spot. Lodestar UM and Madison Media Infinity took the fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 30, 2010 8:32 AM

Emvies 2010: Ad club gears for an earlier Emvies next year, says Sunil Lulla?blur=25

This year, the Emvies have been a bit more special than other years, in that the awards have completed 10 years. Of the record 397 entries received this year, 66 were shortlisted and a total of 47 awards were given away. Next year promises to have some more excitement. Sunil Lulla, Chairperson, Emvies 2010, shares with exchange4media some future plans and key take aways from the awards this year.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 30, 2010 8:26 AM

Times Television Network to beef up offering with English movie channel Mango?blur=25

BIG CBS Networks’ announcement about its plans to launch three English entertainment channels has caused much excitement in the genre. Now, there are talks about Times Television Network’s plans to expand its channel bouquet with a new English movie channel, christened Mango.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 26, 2010 8:19 AM

Mastiii surges ahead; strong distribution working in channel’s favour, say media planners?blur=25

Roughly a month back, media professionals had predicted that Mastiii had the potential to overtake 9XM. Now, as per the latest TAM figures, the music and entertainment channel from Sri Adhikari Brothers has overtaken the more established players to take the top position in just six weeks of its launch. What has worked for Mastii? Markand Adhikari and media planners share with exchange4media.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 20, 2010 8:34 AM

AXN in overdrive for new season of ‘24’; experiments with subtitles, new time slots?blur=25

The new season of ‘24’, a popular action series on AXN, is eagerly awaited this time, mostly because it marks Bollywood star Anil Kapoor’s debut on international television. AXN is all out to cash in on this excitement and has decided to revise the telecast timings to Monday to Thursday instead of once a week. The channel is also experimenting with subtitles for ‘24’.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 18, 2010 8:37 AM

Emvies 2010: Day 2 of presentations maintain momentum of the first day?blur=25

Emvies 2010 has been witnessing frenetic activity with the commencement of the case study presentations. While Day 1 saw 33 case studies being presented on August 12, Day 2 saw the momentum continuing. Some of the categories in which the case studies were presented included Best Media Strategy - Consumer Products, Best Media Strategy- Consumer durables, Best Media Strategy- Services and Best Media Strategy- Media/ Media Property.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 16, 2010 8:30 AM

9XM launches ad free Freedom Parade?blur=25

To appeal to its viewers, Hindi music channel 9XM has done certain innovations such as ‘Mitti Ke Lal’, a line-up which will provide the viewers a chance to guess facts about the country.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 13, 2010 8:37 AM

Cartoon Network, Perfetti join hands for first in-animation brand integration?blur=25

Taking the concept of product integration forward, Cartoon Network has co-produced an animated film with Animasia, titled ‘Balla Bowl’, wherein Centre Fruit, a product from Perfetti Van Melle, has been integrated into the film’s storyline.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 12, 2010 8:27 AM

Demystifying Genres: Hindi music channels facing the winds of change?blur=25

Names have been changed, taglines have been dropped, content has been repackaged and new players are posing a challenge to the established ones – that, in short, is the story of the Hindi music genre, especially in the last one year. Experimentation has become the name of the game. exchange4media takes a detailed look at this genre, which is on the verge of some more changes.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 10, 2010 8:29 AM

Changing face of ‘Balika Vadhu’: Will the story reclaim the glory??blur=25

Television’s favourite character is all grown up, and with her Colors is looking to recharge the ratings of its prime show ‘Balika Vadhu’. The five-year time leap has created fresh buzz around the show, though it will take some time for viewers to get used to a ‘new’ Anandi. Will this be enough to take ‘Balika Vadhu’ to its earlier glory? exchange4media finds out.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 10, 2010 8:19 AM

What’s On India bullish on distribution, eyes 35 million homes by end of this fiscal?blur=25

After undergoing a layout change in June this year and increasing its rural focus in key markets such as Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, What’s On India channel now wants to beef up its distribution to 35 million homes from the current 20 million homes.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 5, 2010 8:51 AM

‘3 Idiots’ pushes Sony to No 3 slot; adds 92 GRPs to the channel?blur=25

Sony Entertainment Channel had played an expensive gamble when it acquired Bollywood blockbuster ‘3 Idiots’ earlier this year. Industry sources had said that the buy was at Rs 35 crore. The gamble appears to have paid off. Not only has the movie rated higher than any programme in the recent past, but has also given a 92 rating points boost to Sony, taking the channel just 20 points behind the No 2 channel Colors.

Khushboo Tanna Aug 5, 2010 8:48 AM

‘3 Idiots’ delivers for Sony, overtakes ratings of ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’?blur=25

Aamir Khan-starrer ‘3 Idiots’, one of the biggest blockbusters of 2010, managed to sustain its fan following on television as well. The movie, which was premiered on Sony Entertainment Television on July 2, 2010, got a TVR of 13.1 for HSM metros and 10.1 TVR for the six metros.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 31, 2010 9:00 AM

Media professionals’ verdict: Mastiii has the potential to overtake 9XM?blur=25

Mastiii, the music and entertainment channel from Sri Adhikari Brothers, may be only three weeks old, but the channel has excited media professionals, who have given it the thumbs up. The channel’s numbers have been received in a positive light by media professionals and it content seems to have found quite a few takers across age groups.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 29, 2010 8:34 AM

Big B to attract more eyeballs for Champions League T20?blur=25

In yet another marriage between cricket and Bollywood, ESPN has roped in Amitabh Bachchan to endorse the Champions League Twenty20, which will be played in South Africa in September this year.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 24, 2010 9:00 AM

FIFA World Cup finals, IIFA numbers bring cheer to media planners?blur=25

The grand finale of the FIFA World Cup was expected to draw a large number of audiences, therefore, when that happened, it came as no surprise. The month-long football season has thrown up numbers as per the expectations of the media experts. On the same day, Star Plus had telecast the IIFA awards, which also managed to get good ratings for the channel.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 22, 2010 8:48 AM

The rise of the Bengali GECs; new channels stir up the market?blur=25

Bengali GECs have been seeing quite some action in recent times. The recent launch of Mahuaa Bangla channel and a new GEC planned by the ABP Group, slated for launch in October, has stirred up a lot of excitement in the market. Media professionals explain how different Bengali GECs are from Hindi GECs and the way forward for these new channels.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 21, 2010 8:41 AM

Old shows in a new avatar – a smart move or foolhardiness??blur=25

The recent news that Doordarshan is planning to revive one of its most popular shows, ‘Hum Log’ has generated a lot of curiosity. The show, which will now be called ‘Hum’, will have a new cast and will be set in a new location. One wonders whether the show, which was immensely popular in the 80’s would work in today’s scenario. Media professionals have mixed feelings about this move.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 16, 2010 8:33 AM

And OctoPaul contributes to football frenzy in India too; experts predict high ratings?blur=25

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be remembered for a long time to come. The intensity of some of the matches, the elimination of some favourite teams, the psychic octopus Paul and the finale made sure that football stayed on top of the mind for the viewer. Will that hype be able to deliver ratings? Media professionals talk about viewership details, top advertisers and upcoming football related trends.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 15, 2010 8:27 AM

Let the viewer decide: Colors and Zee involve viewers in content decision?blur=25

In a bid to attract and retain viewer interest, GECs are increasingly letting viewers get more and more involved with their various offerings – from selecting the name of a show to decide on the lead protagonist after a leap in time. exchange4media takes a look at how Colors and Zee are whipping up viewer interest.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 14, 2010 8:09 AM

‘Big Money’ on Imagine, ‘KBC’ returns… game shows flex their muscles again?blur=25

Indian television is set to witness the return of money and brain power. The game show that started it all – ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ – is set to return for Season 4 with the original host, but on a new channel – Sony. Imagine is ready with ‘Big Money’. ‘Dus Ka Dum’, too, will return for the next season.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 8, 2010 8:56 AM

Mastiii is going to be like an ‘electronic radio’: Markand Adhikari?blur=25

Preparations are on full swing at Sri Adhikari Brothers for the launch of their new music and entertainment channel Mastiii, which is expected in the next couple of days. In an exclusive conversation with exchange4media, Markand Adhikari, MD & Vice-Chairman, Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd, shares more on Mastiii, the content line-up and the team.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 2, 2010 9:00 AM

Star World launches Glee on its weekend slot; continues with its new programming strategy for weekdays?blur=25

Star World has fortified its weekend offering with the new show ‘Glee’. The channel had started a new programming strategy early this year, where episodes from a show would be telecast from Monday to Thursday as opposed to telecasting one episode per week.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 1, 2010 9:21 AM

Ayaz Memon joins IMN News as Consulting Editor?blur=25

IMN News has brought on board Ayaz Memon as Consulting Editor. He joined a week back. Memon had quit DNA some time back. At DNA he was Editor-at-large and then continued as a columnist. Having extensive experience in the print industry, this is Memon’s first stint in television media.

Khushboo Tanna Jul 1, 2010 9:15 AM

Sri Adhikari Brothers’ channel Mastiii assigns creative and media mandate to Madison Creative Cell and ZO, respectively?blur=25

Sri Adhikari Brothers has decided on the creative and media agencies for its new music and entertainment channel Mastiii. The channel is expected to launch in the first week of July. The creative duties of the channel will be handled by Madision Creative Cell (the creative arm of Madison World), while the media duties have been awarded to ZenithOptimedia.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 30, 2010 8:57 AM

Nick gets a new logo; increases focus on digital, BTL, retail segment?blur=25

Kids’ channel Nick is undergoing a revamp in terms of a new logo, which will be a common thread that will bind all the Nick brands together. Along with this, Nick India also intends to focus on areas such as digital, BTL, as well as the retail segment.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 29, 2010 8:47 AM

With 443 GRPs, Star Plus reclaims its glory?blur=25

Though the numbers are for just one week, it has brought great cheer to the Star Plus camp. The channel led the Hindi GEC charts on week 25 with 443 GRPs (TAM, HSM, CS 4+). A part of it can be attributed to the Star Parivaar Awards, which was in its tenth year. New show ‘Tere Liye’ also managed to find its way to the top ten programmes of the week.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 24, 2010 8:58 AM

Mid-Day goes 3D for its 31st anniversary issue with UTV Action?blur=25

To celebrate its 31st anniversary, Mid-Day will release a bumper anniversary issue across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Bangalore on June 25, 2010. The cover jacket and the editorial page of the tabloid will be in 3D and will come along with 3D glasses. The 3D cover is sponsored by UTV Action for the movie ‘The Forbidden Kingdom’, which will air on June 27, 2010.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 22, 2010 9:15 AM

Media planners optimistic of FIFA World Cup ratings to go up by 20-30 pc in subsequent matches?blur=25

Will soccer fever match the cricket craze in the country? The first five matches of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa have seen sluggish ratings. However, as favourites surge ahead, media planners are confident that ratings would pick up by 20-30 per cent in the coming days.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 18, 2010 8:38 AM

Reliance Media World to be called Reliance Broadcast Network; sales team rechristened as ‘Big Connect’?blur=25

Reliance Media World will soon sport a new name. It is in the final stages of being rechristened as Reliance Broadcast Network. With the identity change, the group intends to focus on verticals such as BTL and retail. To ensure this, the group has also named it sales team as ‘Big Connect’.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 17, 2010 8:31 AM

Bolder and brasher, reality shows move beyond talent hunts?blur=25

From game show KBC and the myriad talent hunt shows, to voyeuristic dramas like ‘Bigg Boss’ and ‘Iss Jungle se Mujhe Bachao’, reality shows are increasingly adopting bolder concepts. Having its origins in the game show format, reality shows have now moved on to formats that sometimes blur the line between real and reel. exchange4media looks at how it has worked out for the broadcasters, advertisers and the audience.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 17, 2010 8:26 AM

Suresh Bala moves out of Zoom; likely to start his own venture?blur=25

Suresh Bala has put in his papers at Zoom as CEO. He had been with Zoom since 2006. Bala now intends to start his own venture in the media space and said that he would be ready to talk about it in a week’s time. It could not be ascertained as to who would be replacing Bala at Zoom.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 16, 2010 8:33 AM

English movie genre moving ahead on perception and aspiration value?blur=25

The English movie genre has been growing slowly and steadily over the past few years. While the audience for this genre is limited, the channels are very optimistic about growth. The genre, which is led by Star Movies, saw the launch of a new channel WB some time back. exchange4media takes a look at what the current equation in the English movie genre is.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 16, 2010 8:28 AM

UTV’s new logo gets mixed reactions from media planners?blur=25

To mark its 20th Anniversary, UTV is undergoing a total rebranding across its five verticals – broadcasting, games content, motion pictures, new media and TV. It recently unveiled its new logo, which seeks to give the media house a more vibrant image. However, some media planners feel that some logos are like gospels and better left unaltered. Was this change necessary? exchange4media finds out.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 15, 2010 8:26 AM

Measurement currency needed in ratings, stress Paritosh Joshi and LV Krishnan; but, TV industry too ad dependent, says Sam Balsara?blur=25

The discussions invariably turned towards ratings at the exchange4media Conclave in Mumbai on June 11 with Madison World’s Sam Balsara, TAM India’s LV Krishnan, and Star CJ’s Paritosh Joshi debating the various aspects in the session titled ‘Regulated Ratings: How does it impact the Media Ecosystem?’.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 14, 2010 8:50 AM

Marketing is all about brilliant ideas that wow the consumer: Rahul Welde Unilever?blur=25

Unilever’s Rahul Welde had the audience’s attention with his special address on ‘The New Age Marketer: As the dust settles on slowdown, what are the new rules?’ at the exchange4media Conclave n Mumbai on June 11. Welde stressed on the need to have big ideas that travelled across the globe and ideas that could be crowd sourced or open sourced.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 14, 2010 8:47 AM

Marketing Responsibly: Sam Balsara, Nandita Das, Vivek Bahl discuss the fairer side of the story?blur=25

To celebrate the completion of 25 years, ASCI had organized a seminar called ‘Marketing Responsibly’. One session in that seminar focused on the women’s side and the panelists discussed topics such as portrayal of women in the media and how advertising affects women.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 11, 2010 9:19 AM

Colors restructures programming team; Siddharth Bahuguna to head Non-Fiction Content?blur=25

Colors is sprucing up its programming team and has brought in Siddharth Bahuguna to head Non-Fiction Content. Besides this, the fiction content on the channel will be divided into four time blocks, with each block having a separate fiction team, which will report to Ashvini Yardi, Programming Head, Colors.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 9, 2010 8:16 AM

Channel [v] succumbs to the lure of fiction shows; to launch ‘Roomies’?blur=25

In a bid to attract a larger youth audience base, Channel [v] is foraying into the fiction genre with its first fiction show, ‘Roomies’. To be launched in a month’s time, the show will follow a sitcom format and air on Saturdays at 7 pm.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 7, 2010 8:21 AM

RAM Ramblings: Radio Mirchi leads the night slot in Mumbai?blur=25

According to RAM data for Mumbai for the period between Week 10 (February 28 to March 6) and Week 21 (May 16-22), in the 9 pm to 12 am slot, Radio Mirchi led the market with a 19.8 per cent share. Radio City followed with a 15.8 per cent market share.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 7, 2010 8:20 AM

ASCI turns the spotlight on ‘Marketing Responsibly’ to celebrate 25 years?blur=25

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) is observing its Silver Jubilee with a special seminar – ‘Marketing Responsibly: A seminar to Celebrate 25 years of The Advertising Standards Council of India’. The Seminar, being held in Mumbai on June 10, 2010, is co-organised by the exchange4media Group. Hindustan Times is the presenting sponsor.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 7, 2010 8:17 AM

9XM whips up FIFA frenzy with new football anthem?blur=25

Football frenzy is building up with the FIFA World Cup set to kick off in less than a week’ time. Joining this bandwagon is 9XM, the channel which showcases Bollywood music. The channel has unveiled a new football anthem that features the 9XM dudes – Bade-Chote, Bheegi Billi, Betel Nuts and Badshah Bhai – playing football.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 5, 2010 9:02 AM

Market sentiments are positive for English business news channels?blur=25

The last one year has seen some churn in the niche English business news channels space. ET Now from the Times Group was launched in 2009, while in late 2009, UTVi joined hands with Bloomberg and was rebranded into Bloomberg UTV. While the English business news channel players insist that they are northward bound, can this genre do with some shake-up? exchange4media finds out.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 3, 2010 8:26 AM

Colors to experiment with reality shows in the afternoon band?blur=25

Colors ruled the Hindi GEC roost for most of last year, however, it has now been toppled from the numero uno position by some old players in the market. The channel, which has been on the forefront of innovations, is now once again experimenting with its afternoon time band.

Khushboo Tanna Jun 2, 2010 8:25 AM

Red FM to intensify focus on sales; sets up an activation team?blur=25

Adopting an aggressive growth stance, Red FM as started beefing up its sales team to focus on important verticals such as telecom and FMCG. The FM player is also planning to engage its clients in on-ground and off-ground innovative activities as opposed to plain vanilla activities. With this, Red FM is eyeing a growth of at least 10 per cent more than what it was last year.

Khushboo Tanna May 31, 2010 8:34 AM

GECs eye blockbuster ratings with latest Bollywood releases?blur=25

The trend of premiering the latest Bollywood releases on Hindi GECs has been growing in recent times and the gap between the theatre release and television premiere is increasingly narrowing. While the cost of acquiring the telecast rights is huge, has it paid off for the GECs proportionately? Are the channels getting the expected eyeballs?

Khushboo Tanna May 28, 2010 8:42 AM

Maxus to handle the media duties for Neo Sports?blur=25

Neo Sports has decided to award the media mandate to GroupM's Maxus. MEC was handling the media duties prior to this. Prasana Krishnan, COO, Neo Sports, has confirmed the development to exchange4media. Industry sources peg the business in the region of Rs 20-25 crore.

Khushboo Tanna May 26, 2010 2:00 PM

Maxus to handle the media duties for Neo Sports?blur=25

Neo Sports has decided to award the media mandate to GroupM’s Maxus. MEC was handling the media duties prior to this. Prasana Krishnan, COO, Neo Sports, has confirmed the development to exchange4media. Industry sources peg the business in the region of Rs 20-25 crore.

Khushboo Tanna May 26, 2010 9:24 AM

Maxus to handle the media duties for Neo Sports?blur=25

The channel has decided to award the media mandate to Group M's Maxus. MEC used to handle the media duties prior to this. Prasana Krishnan, COO, Neo Sports confirmed the development to exchange4media. Industry sources peg the business to be around Rs 20-25 cr.

Khushboo Tanna May 25, 2010 12:51 PM

YRF shows ratings fail to pick up, media planners not too surprised?blur=25

The five shows produced by the reputed Yash Raj Films were meant to fortify Sony Entertainment Television's programming line-up and media planners were quite hopeful. However, even after five months, ratings for these shows have failed to pick up. exchange4media finds out what has not clicked.

Khushboo Tanna May 25, 2010 8:24 AM

New logo + new identity = more viewers for channels??blur=25

Quite a few channels have undergone rebranding in the last few months. The makeovers range from more zany looking logos to a total content revamp. While all chase a wider and younger set of audience, to what extent do these rebranding exercises work out for channels? exchange4media finds out.

Khushboo Tanna May 25, 2010 8:20 AM

ICC T20 World Cup ratings: Despite India’s early exit, media planners not too disappointed?blur=25

India’s performance at the ICC T20 World Cup 2010 left cricket fans disappointed, however, media planners draw consolation from the ratings that show that the average ratings for the matches that India played in was approximately 5.5 TVR. This, say media planners, is a good number given the fact that there has been so much fragmentation in the market and considering that the ICC T20 World Cup came immediately after the IPL had concluded.

Khushboo Tanna May 21, 2010 8:28 AM

The great GEC dance battle... again?blur=25

What started out as a battle among grown ups, has now passed on to children as well in GEC land – the battle of dance, that is. ‘Dance India Dance L’il Masters’ (Zee TV), ‘Chak Dhoom Dhoom’ (Colors), and the recently-premiered all new ‘Boogie Woogie’ (Sony) all pit the little ones at their dancing best. These channels are also hoping to take advantage of the summer vacations to draw more eyeballs. But is it one dance show too many? Is it an overkill of a good concept? exchange4media finds out.

Khushboo Tanna May 20, 2010 8:23 AM

There’s an urgent need to de-commoditise radio: GroupM’s Vikram Sakhuja?blur=25

The India Radio Forum 2010, held in Mumbai on May 19, brought the radio industry under the scanner and addressed issues ranging from effectiveness of the radio medium, pricing and frequency planning to the growth drivers and opportunities. Vikram Sakhuja and Abdul Khan threw more light on the radio industry in their special addresses.

Khushboo Tanna May 20, 2010 8:13 AM

Indian Excellence in Radio Awards 2010: Red FM, Big FM bag 9 awards each; Maxus sole media agency winner?blur=25

The India Radio Forum 2010 that was held in Mumbai on May 19 culminated with the Indian Excellence in Radio Awards 2010. Awards were given out in 30 categories. Red FM and Big FM led the awards tally, winning nine awards each. Maxus was the only media agency to win at the Indian Excellence in Radio Awards 2010.

Khushboo Tanna May 20, 2010 8:12 AM

GECs beef up Saturday primetime line-up?blur=25

In a bid to retain the weekday primetime audience on weekends as well, GECs have been sprucing up their Saturday primetime offerings, which range from reruns and reality shows to soaps and mythological serials. While media planners feel this is a good move for the channels, it remains to be seen whether they catch the viewers’ eyes.

Khushboo Tanna May 19, 2010 7:54 AM

IRS 2010 Q1: IRS goes quarterly: Accuracy before Frequency, caution print players?blur=25

The Indian Readership Survey (IRS), which until last year was released on a half yearly basis, would now be available every quarter. Certain sections of the industry feel that this is a good move but should at the same time be able to offer more on data quality. The publishers' side strongly argues that the IRS' focus should be on data accuracy, rather than frequency.

Khushboo Tanna May 18, 2010 8:51 AM

Kasab trail coverage: Aaj Tak, Times Now lead in viewership among news channels?blur=25

The entire nation had just one question most of the first week of May – will Kasab get the death sentence. With the whole country closely following the court hearings, news channels had a busy time. Emerging top of the lot among Hindi news channels in terms of viewership on the verdict day (May 3) and the sentencing day (May 6) is Aaj Tak, while Times Now was the most watched among English news channels.

Khushboo Tanna May 17, 2010 8:30 AM

IRS 2010 Q1: Top five radio stations see decline in listener base in Bangalore?blur=25

As per the IRS 2010 Q1 data, while Big FM, Radio City and Radio Mirchi have emerged as the top radio stations in Bangalore, it is Radio Indigo, the English radio station, that has impressed the most with a whopping 75 per cent increase in its listener base. However, the top five radio stations in Bangalore have witnessed a decline in listenership.

Khushboo Tanna May 15, 2010 9:01 AM

IRS 2010 Q1: Radio Mirchi, Radio City, Red FM top three in Delhi and Mumbai?blur=25

As per the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2010 Q1 data (Radio Stations - last one week) Radio Mirchi leads among the radio players in both Mumbai and Delhi markets with a considerable lead. Radio City is the No. 2 station in both these markets, while Red FM is placed third.

Khushboo Tanna May 14, 2010 8:41 AM

Mixed start for ICC T20 World Cup 2010 ratings?blur=25

Even as the IPL fever is barely fizzing out, the cricket crazy Indian audience already has something to look forward to in the form of ICC T20 World Cup 2010. India’s performance has not been too steady in the tournament and needless to say, the ratings reflect it. The first three matches that India has played in have rated “decent” according to media observers. The non-India matches, however, have thrown some of the lowest ratings.

Khushboo Tanna May 13, 2010 8:24 AM

Indian Idol ratings decline over the seasons?blur=25

It’s been five years since the first episode of ‘Indian Idol’ was telecast on Sony. Now, in its fifth season, the show has continued its association with the channel. After garnering tremendous following in its opening season, the subsequent seasons of the talent hunt show have not been able to sustain enough viewer interest. Media planners share their views on ‘Indian Idol’s performance over the seasons.

Khushboo Tanna May 12, 2010 8:40 AM

Star Network, Intel in strategic pact to promote Intel Core’s new ‘parivaar’ of processors?blur=25

Star India has been entering into innovative tie-ups with various brands, for example, the Vodafone roadblock that was done on the entire Star Network some years ago. Taking this innovative theme forward, five channels of the Star Network have tied up with the 2010 Intel Core processor family to promote them through various brand integrations. This innovation is being done by OMD.

Khushboo Tanna May 7, 2010 8:33 AM

UTV World Movies to foray into theatrical releases?blur=25

After venturing into the home video vertical, UTV World Movies is now planning to foray into theatrical releases as well. So far, it has identified 12 to 14 cinemas across four metros where these movies will be shown. The channel has also tied up with a multiplex for this venture.

Khushboo Tanna May 3, 2010 8:19 AM

MTV’s Pulsar Stunt Mania goes on ground?blur=25

‘Pulsar Stunt Mania’, touted as the first biking stunt show on television, is all set for Season 2. MTV, which airs the show, has lined up a series of activities to engage the TG and build buzz around the show, starting with a ‘Rockathon’, said to be India’s first bike and rock festival.

Khushboo Tanna May 1, 2010 8:41 AM

Star India ropes in Shams Kabir to head Media Buying and Presentation?blur=25

Shams Kabir has joined Star India as Head of Media buying and Presentation. Prior to joining Star India, Kabir was with Oxigen Services India, where he was Senior Vice President, Marcom. He has around 16 years of experience and has worked in companies such as Mindshare, Madison and Media Direction, among others.

Khushboo Tanna Apr 30, 2010 8:12 AM

ZEEL buyout of 9X a positive move, say media planners?blur=25

The news about ZEEL in the process of acquiring 9X channel has been greeted by media planners in general, who feel it is a win-win for both the companies. Post the acquisition, ZEEL will have two GECs under its umbrella, while INX Media will have more money to pump into 9XM.

Khushboo Tanna Apr 29, 2010 8:13 AM

Zee promotes ‘Dance India Dance’ on a huge scale?blur=25

‘Lux Dance India Dance’, the home-grown dance show on Zee has turned out to be quite a hit. After gaining a substantial viewer base, the show carried out some activities to connect with its viewers. A dance carnival, a print innovation and strong presence in the online space were all part of this high voltage marketing activity.

Khushboo Tanna Apr 24, 2010 9:01 AM

Media planners give their take on international format game shows?blur=25

Reality shows and game shows have helped GECs grab a major chunk of the eyeballs. While some game show formats are home grown, a lot of them are international formats that have been tweaked to suit Indian taste. Media planners tell exchange4media what is their take on these reality shows based on international formats, how important the host is and other factors that work or do not work for such shows.

Khushboo Tanna Apr 23, 2010 8:52 AM

AdMob bets big on mobile web traffic; opportunities galore for brand engagement?blur=25

AdMob has been in the news recently, especially for the acquisition deal by Google. While the deal is still under FTC review, Mahesh Narayanan, Country Manager, AdMob India, shares some insights about the mobile ad network industry, the growth potential and how the industry functions globally.

Khushboo Tanna Apr 13, 2010 8:13 AM

The KBC Story: New host, new channel, new destiny...?blur=25

‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) is gearing up for its fourth season and there are very strong rumours that Aamir Khan would be the new host. Meanwhile, the industry is also talking about KBC-4 being telecast on Sony instead of Star Plus. exchange4media takes a look at KBC over the last three seasons and the expectations from the fourth season.

Khushboo Tanna Apr 8, 2010 9:00 AM

10-15 pc drop in Hindi GEC viewership predicted during IPL3?blur=25

Hindi GECs seem to be losing out on a considerable amount of audience due to IPL3. Last year, the Hindi GECs had seen a decline of around 10-15 per cent of their total viewership, media planners predict that the same percentage of viewership decline in GECs during the third season of IPL as well.

Khushboo Tanna Apr 2, 2010 8:21 AM

UTV Movies to unveil new branding, assume new identity in mid-May?blur=25

UTV Movies, the Hindi movie channel from UTV, is set to roll out its first ever brand campaign in May, post the Indian Premier League. The campaign is being conceptualised by TapRoot India. The channel will undergo a complete rebranding and assume a new identity. Kunal Mukherjee, Head - Marketing, UTV Movies, shares more.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 27, 2010 8:30 AM

Channel [v] plays on the 777 formula, but media planners unsure?blur=25

Channel [v] is out to tap the 7 pm time band and is launching seven new shows on seven consecutive days at 7 pm. Considering that 7 pm is a very strong band for competitor MTV, media planners say that Channel [v] has to do more than this 777 formula and chalk out a long term strategy to overtake MTV.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 26, 2010 9:54 AM

Hindi GECs: Race for No. 1 continues; compelling content will attract eyeballs, say media planners?blur=25

The last couple of weeks have seen Star Plus and Colors involved in a tough battle for the numero uno spot. While both these channels are very bullish on their programming line-up, one has to take into account the loss of viewership due to IPL3. Colors, however, has tied up with IPL to create shows around the event in a bid to retain viewers who watch IPL.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 25, 2010 8:25 AM

Ashish Patil exits Viacom18; headed to Yash Raj Films?blur=25

Ashish Patil, who has been with MTV for 12 years, has decided to move on and join Yash Raj Films (YRF). At YRF, Patil will work as the Business and Content Head for a new division, which will focus on youth movies. He will report directly to Aditya Chopra, who is the Vice Chairman of the group.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 24, 2010 8:31 AM

‘Fear Factor’ + Priyanka Chopra + cricketers, but will the audience bite??blur=25

It’s Priyanka Chopra for the new season of Colors’ ‘Fear Factor – Khatron ke Khiladi’. The stunts done by Akshay Kumar, who had hosted the earlier season, were a huge factor in drawing the audience. But will Chopra’s glamour quotient and 13 cricketers on the show do the trick? exchange4media finds out from some leading media planners.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 19, 2010 11:10 AM

Invest in innovation and differentiation across the value chain: Uday Shankar?blur=25

Delivering the keynote address at the concluding day of FICCI Frames 2010, Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India, stressed that there was hunger for good content. He also pointed out some of the serious concerns that this industry would face in the future, the first one being low level of innovative content and repetition of successful formats.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 19, 2010 8:36 AM

FICCI Frames 2010: Defining No 1 in the dizzying newscape?blur=25

‘The War for TV News: Defining No 1 in the dizzying newscape’ was the only news related session at FICCI Frames 2010. The final consensus that emerged was that while the ratings systems helped evaluate the performance, advertisers had to stop pitching one rating format against the other. The panel also felt that television needed one single rating system to streamline the process.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 18, 2010 8:42 AM

The industry game changers, according to Ronnie Screwvala?blur=25

The first session of Day 2 of FICCI Frames 2010 commenced with a keynote address by Ronnie Screwvala, CEO and Founder Chairman, UTV Group. He said that the mobile phone was his favourite technology right now and that he saw this medium as a potential game changer. He then went on to give some key pointers that would help create game changers in the gaming, mobile, web and movie business.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 18, 2010 8:42 AM

‘Digital media can become the soul of the campaign if done correctly’?blur=25

Two interesting sessions marked the second half of the Digital Media Conference 2010, held in Mumbai on March 11. Mudra’s Bobby Pawar and BBH’s Partha Sinha made an interesting presentation on ‘A Politically Incorrect View on Digital Media’, while Tata Teleservices’ Llyod Mathias highlighted the ‘Opportunities in Digital Media’.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 12, 2010 8:05 AM

Swayamvar seasons on Imagine: Rahul scores… but not as high as Rakhi?blur=25

Imagine TV had hit jackpot with ‘Rakhi Ka Swayamvar’ and clocked a TRP of 8.4 for the two-hour long finale that was aired on August 2, 2009. In comparison, the final episode of Swayamvar Season 2 – ‘Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega’ – had scored a TVR of 5.6. Media planners say this is a natural phenomenon as the first season’s ratings are usually higher than the subsequent seasons. That coupled with Rakhi Sawant’s ability to pull viewers, made all the difference for the first season.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 11, 2010 7:45 AM

English movie channels come up with counter-measures to take on IPL?blur=25

With barely five days for the start of IPL3, various entertainment and movie channels are gearing up to beef up their content line-up to retain eye-balls during the IPL tournament. English movie channels have come up with their versions of ‘Movie Premier Leagues’, promising a bonanza of Hollywood blockbusters.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 9, 2010 7:44 AM

Afternoon band opens well for Colors, but declines in second week?blur=25

In a bid to continue capturing the highest share of the GRP pie, Colors had launched two new shows in its afternoon time band, christened ‘Saanjhi Dopahar’. The two shows have debuted with “decent” numbers, but have dropped in the second week. This could be one of the reasons why Colors overall GRPs slipped, and week 8 was the first week in 2010, when Star Plus beat Colors to be the No. 1 channel.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 5, 2010 7:27 AM

Ad Review: Revenge sweet revenge, Tata Sky Plus ad shows how?blur=25

After the crackling Aamir Khan-Gul Panag chemistry, Tata Sky Plus has rolled out a series of three new ads that show the lady of the house get back at her husband for not letting her watch her favourite soap because of his cricket match. The ads have been conceptualised by Ogilvy India.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 4, 2010 7:18 AM

Experiment, consolidate: 2010 promises another busy year for music channels?blur=25

Most of the music channels underwent rebranding and content revamp in 2009, introducing a fresh infusion of music and reality shows. And it appears that it has worked out well for the music channels. What next in 2010? exchange4media finds out from some key players in the music genre.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 3, 2010 7:36 AM

Star Gold completes a decade; opening up more programming slots?blur=25

Following completion of 10 years of operations, Hindi movie channel Star Gold is now opening up new programming slots to cater to a wider audience base. The channel, which contributes approximately 20 per cent of Star India’s total annual revenue, intends to maintain this figure this year as well.

Khushboo Tanna Mar 2, 2010 6:13 AM

Sahara Samay rechristened as Samay Mumbai; launches 22 new shows?blur=25

Sahara Samay, the Hindi news channel from Sahara India Pariwar, has donned a new identity as Samay Mumbai. While the name ‘Sahara’ has been dropped, the Sahara logo continues to be a part of the channel’s identity. The channel has also introduced 22 new shows and aims to become the first one-stop Mumbai centric city channel.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 27, 2010 7:52 AM

Changes at Viacom18: Biz Planning & Strategy Head Karthik Lakshminarayan quits; new CCO & Head Int’l Biz appointed?blur=25

Karthik Lakshminarayan, Head of Business Planning & Strategy for Colors, has moved on from the organisation. Viacom18 also announced on February 25, 2010, the appointment of Gaurav Gandhi as Chief Commercial Officer - Viacom18 Group. In this newly created role, Gandhi would spearhead Viacom18's international business and would be reporting to Rajesh Kamat, Group COO, Viacom18 and CEO, Colors.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 26, 2010 6:51 AM

Budget 2010: Broadcasters urge cut in taxes, seeing TV as infrastructure?blur=25

Most of the Budget wishlist of broadcasters and distributors revolve around reduction in entertainment taxes and custom duties. Some of the broadcasters have also urged the Government to see television as infrastructure of the entertainment industry.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 26, 2010 6:50 AM

Colors to spice up IPL with ‘IPL Tadka Maar Ke’?blur=25

Hindi GEC Colors has rolled out a new campaign to highlight its new ‘cricketainment’ property, called ‘IPL Tadka Maar Ke’. So far, five TVCs have been released and are on air. ‘IPL Tadka Maar Ke’ aims to combine cricket with glamour, music, Bollywood and fashion.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 24, 2010 7:31 AM

Keertan Adyanthaya to move to Fox International Channels & NGC as Managing Director?blur=25

Keertan Adyanthaya, the EVP and GM at Star Movies and Star World, is slated to take charge at Fox International Channels and National Geographic Channel, as Managing Director. Adyanthaya moves to his new role in April 2010. Even though official confirmation was not available at the time of filing the report, highly placed sources have confirmed the development to exchange4media.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 24, 2010 7:23 AM

Colors firms up overseas plans; eyes significant revenues from subscription in the UK?blur=25

After its launch in the US late last month as ‘Aapka Colors’, Hindi GEC Colors has now forayed into the UK. The channel has appointed Targeted Marketing Solutions (TMS) to handle its airtime sales in the UK and is launching a multimedia campaign in the international markets to establish brand Colors.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 17, 2010 7:12 AM

Sanjeev Kapoor’s food channel’s success depends on the programme menu, say media planners?blur=25

Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who shot to fame with his food show ‘Khana Khazana’ on Zee TV in the 90s, is now all set to launch a food and wellness magazine, to be followed by a 24-hour food channel. While India has a bewildering range of cuisines, will a niche ‘food channel’ spell profitability? exchange4media finds out from media planners.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 16, 2010 7:18 AM

Award shows paying off for GECs, but overkill can dilute effectiveness?blur=25

Given the craze for the glitter and glamour of Bollywood, the myriad movie awards shows are aired by different GECs and manage to garner eyeballs every time. However, media analysts caution that while these awards shows pay rich dividends, an overkill of such ‘shows’ would dilute effectiveness from a longevity point of view.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 12, 2010 6:57 AM

Zee Salaam debuts with a soft launch; media planners point out linguistic channels' market is small?blur=25

Zee Network had added yet another channel to its bouquet of offerings with the launch of an Urdu channel – Zee Salaam. While the channel has already been launched, not much activity in terms of marketing has been seen to support the launch. exchange4media spoke to some media planners to get their views on the launch of Zee Salaam.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 10, 2010 6:51 AM

Bindass launching first brand campaign in Feb?blur=25

UTV Bindass is launching its first brand campaign in February 2010 to connect with its core target group of youngsters. The campaign, called ‘What I Am’, attempts to bust some of the myths associated with youths.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 6, 2010 6:31 AM

Eye on IPL, GECs shore up content line-up?blur=25

GECs have never had it easy – from creating new time slots to bringing in compelling content – it is always a struggle to retain and attract eyeballs. This, combined with IPL3 set to take over TV viewing during most of March and April 2010, is seeing GECs upping the ante on lining up fresh content.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 4, 2010 7:30 AM

Colors out to tap afternoon band with ‘Sanjhi Dopahar’; media planners call it a positive move?blur=25

After capturing a major chunk of the evening viewership, Colors has now turned its attention to the afternoon time band. The channel is all set to inaugurate its afternoon time band, labeled ‘Sanjhi Dopahar’, and has started promos for two of its shows – ‘Agnipareeksha, Jeevan Ki Ganga’ and ‘Aise Na Karo Vida’.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 3, 2010 7:20 AM

Sulekha Sharma joins UTV World Movies as AVP and National Head, Ad Sales?blur=25

UTV World Movies has roped in Suleka Sharma as Associate VP and National Head, Ad Sales. Prior to this, Sharma was Zonal Head, North and East, Zee Café and Zee Studio. Sharma will be based in Delhi and will report to Nikhil Gandhi, Network Head, Sales, and Sameer Ganapathy, Business Head, UTV World Movies.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 2, 2010 7:27 AM

STAR CJ Network aims to overcome logistical issues in 2010?blur=25

STAR CJ Network India may have been in the business for just a few months, but already enjoys the support of over 50 brand partners across 30 categories. An optimistic Paritosh Joshi, CEO, Star CJ Network, shares his views on the road ahead for the network.

Khushboo Tanna Feb 1, 2010 7:01 AM

PIX to focus on South market in 2010; eyes 25-30 pc channel share?blur=25

PIX is trying hard to break away from the industry perception of being library movie channel. The channel is taking several steps to achieve that. Pix is also eyeing a 25-30 per cent channel share by 2010-end. Sunder Aaron, Senior Vice President and Business Head, PIX, shares the channel’s plans with exchange4media.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 29, 2010 7:19 AM

Music channels veering more towards non-music, reality-based shows?blur=25

2009 has been a year of reinvention for the music genre. While MTV dropped ‘Music Television’ from its name, Channel [v] got ‘Bloody Cool’ as its new tagline. Vh1 also underwent rebranding in May 2009. Experimenting with non-music content has become the key to attracting eyeballs.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 27, 2010 6:57 AM

Star World revamps programming; expects to contribute 20-22 pc to total ad sales revenues?blur=25

The channels in the English entertainment portfolio of STAR India Group have chalked out an aggressive strategy for 2010 to consolidate their position. There has been a fair amount of senior level reshuffling in STAR India in the last couple of months. Plus a new programming strategy has been adopted for Star World as well as Star Movies.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 22, 2010 7:41 AM

Channel [v] chalks out aggressive plans; music to remain a big part of programming mix?blur=25

Not much has been heard from Channel [v] of late. However, the channel has been rebranding itself, introducing several new shows and shoring up its music content. With the advent of the new year, Channel [v] is on an aggressive growth path. Prem Kamath, General Manager, Marketing, shares the channels plans with exchange4media.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 15, 2010 8:05 AM

YRF TV debut below expectations; media planners hopeful of better performance?blur=25

The 5 shows produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF) for Sony Entertainment Television were launched to strengthen the weekend time band for the channel and to increase the channel’s popularity. While the channel promoted the shows extensively, they don’t seem to be a hit with the viewers yet as the numbers are far from satisfactory.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 14, 2010 7:11 AM

Focus on fiction and creating new time-bands on NDTV Imagine’s 2010 agenda?blur=25

NDTV Imagine would complete two years on January 21, 2010 and the channel has chalked out some aggressive plans for the year ahead. These plans include quick replacement of shows that are not working, increasing primetime to 7-11 pm as opposed to the current 8-11 pm band and a much stronger focus on its fiction offering.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 13, 2010 7:39 AM

Manoj Padmanabhan joins BloombergUTV as Vice President, Sales?blur=25

BloombergUTV has roped in Manoj Padmanabhan as Vice President, Sales. He moves from Ten Sports, where he was Director, Ad Sales. At BloombergUTV, Padmanabhan’s main mandate would be to monetise its revenue stream.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 12, 2010 7:25 AM

MEC appointed media AoR for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd?blur=25

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has moved its media duties from long holding custodian, Madison Media, to Mediaedge:cia. It is understood that all of the other Essel businesses continue to be with Madison. The change is only for ZEEL and all the channels that fall in the group. Industry sources peg the business in the vicinity of Rs 50 crore. The development was confirmed to exchange4media by ZEEL officials.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 11, 2010 9:08 AM

MEC appointed media AoR for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd?blur=25

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has moved its media duties from long holding custodian, Madison Media, to Mediaedge:cia. It is understood that all of the other Essel businesses continue to be with Madison. The change is only for ZEEL and all the channels that fall in the group. Industry sources peg the business in the vicinity of Rs 50 crore. The development was confirmed to exchange4media by ZEEL officials.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 9, 2010 9:54 AM

Multi Screen Media appoints OMD India as media AoR?blur=25

After a 10-year long association with MediaCom, Multi Screen Media has decided to change its media partner. In the wake of a multi-agency pitch, the account has moved to OMD India. Industry sources peg the business in the vicinity of Rs 50-60 crore.

Khushboo Tanna Jan 8, 2010 8:21 AM