Sun TV Network management has revealed that the company will make big investments in TV content and film content in FY22 and beyond. At the same time, OTT content investments will continue to take a backseat in the first half of the fiscal. The company plans to spend Rs 200-250 crore on satellite rights acquisition.

In the Q4 and FY21 earnings conference call, the company's management said that 5-6 big-budget, non-fiction shows based on the international format will be launched during the fiscal in Telugu and Malayalam markets. These shows comprising 30-40 episodes will run for 3-4 months and cost per show is expected to be Rs 25-30 crore.

In week 20 of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, Star Utsav continued to lead the Hindi (U+R) and rural market whereas Star Plus dominated Urban Hindi GEC. In the top five programs list, across markets, Star Plus’ shows took the lead. However, in the urban market, Sony Entertainment Television (SET)’s singing reality show Indian Idol Season 12 entered the top five this week, while Sony SAB’ Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma' maintained its fifth spot in the market.

 

Star Utsav continued to dominate the top ten channel list in Hindi GEC (U+R) in week 21. The channel registered 2965.61 (000s) AMA followed by Star Plus on the second spot with 2805.55 (000s) AMA and Sony Sab on the third spot with 2547.91 (000s) AMA. Sony Pal and Colors Rishtey bagged fourth and fifth spots with 1575.19 (000s) AMA and 1506.37 (000s) AMA respectively.

Mumbai: This one is for those news channel executives and owners in India who don’t seem to have the confidence to launch their own streaming services. Cable TV news pioneer CNN – part of the WarnerMedia (now WarnerBros.Discovery) group, is working on its OTT service called – what else do you expect –CNN+, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The platform is likely to be subscription driven and launch plans are being speeded up to allow it to debut much before the merger between CNN owner Warner Media and Discovery gets completed and the combined media behemoth resurfaces as Warner Bros.Discovery.

With the last deadline extension for the inaugural India TV presents BestMediaInfo Rising Star Awards, here are ‘five reasons’ to participate, especially for brands and agencies sitting on the fence:

1. Avoiding danger is no safer

For those who fear star performers will be poached due to any exposure, it is true that exposure comes with some degree of risk but one must brave it in order to nurture the third or fourth line of leadership. Poaching is a part of the game and it is open for every company. Moreover, if we don't create heroes out of our own people, they will find a place where they will be treated as one.

New Delhi: Dish TV India Limited, India’s leading DTH Company today introduced more initiatives to strengthen its battle against Covid-19. In an effort to encourage & support vaccination drive, Dish TV India Ltd announced that it would thank its subscribers who get vaccinated by crediting one day worth of entertainment to every customer of DishTV and D2H who uploads his/her details of vaccination on respective websites.

To aid patients and Covid warriors battling it in Hospitals, Dish TV further announced that all the Hospitals and Nursing Homes having DishTV or D2H connections will get one month of free subscription of their existing plan. Hospitals that have not recharged their connections recently, upon recharge will be extended the same benefit.

Viacom18 Media, India’s fastest growing entertainment network has launched its regional entertainment channel, COLORS Gujarati, in UK. IndiaCast Media Distribution, jointly owned by TV18 & Viacom18,has partnered with Sky & Virgin Media for the channel launch. The channel is available to Sky subscribers starting 1st June on Channel No. 794 and will be available to Virgin Media’s ‘Asian Mela Pack’ subscribers from 8th June on Channel No. 825. Currently, the network offers its flagship general entertainment channel COLORSalong with the premium entertainment channel COLORS Rishtey and the movie channel COLORS Cineplexin UK. With this new addition, COLORS Gujarati will become the only Gujarati language channel to be available to UK viewers. The channel will bring the best of Gujarati content all through the week along with movie premieres every Sunday at 7 PM.

Faisal Mahomed, Director, BT Media and Broadcast, said “As a leading provider of media services in the UK, BT Media and Broadcast is at the forefront of broadcast innovation. With a successful partner track record, we’re pleased to continue to help Viacom18 capture larger UK audiences through our cutting-edge technology, and as always, we look forward to supporting Viacom18 with their growth plans – both in the UK and internationally.”

Over 144 years, Test cricket has witnessed some outstanding teams and players who have left their mark on the game with their superlative performances and inspiring brilliance. The best test team in the world, in particular, has been a topic of great discussion and debate; after all, a World Test champion has never been crowned. Fans around the world are now eagerly waiting for the Cricketing event of a lifetime as India and New Zealand get ready to lock horns to win the ultimate prize in Test cricket – The 1st ever World Test Championship – from June 18-22ndat The Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Star Sports, India’s leading sports broadcaster, unveiled a promotional film ahead of this marquee event.

The film, voiced by renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, epitomizes the exciting journey of the Indian team in the lead up to this landmark test, where they will be up against a skilful and courageous New Zealand team, equally eager to create history by being the 1st ever World Test Champion.

Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the ICC World Test Championship Final which is scheduled to be played from June 18 to June 22, 2021, has roped in 12 sponsors for the test series. 

The broadcaster has roped in four co-presenting sponsors including Dream 11, Byju’s, Thumbs Up, Car 24, and eight associate sponsors - Skoda, MRF, Cred, NiyoX, paisabazaar.com, UltraTech Cement, PharmaEasy, and policybazaar.com. 

As Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) gears up for the two biggest football tournaments, UEFA EURO 2020 and Copa América 2021, to widen its audience reach for the upcoming sports properties, the network has now launched its first regional sports channel - TEN 4.

The channel will be available in Tamil and Telugu across the Southern regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. SPNI has also roped in actor Rana Daggubati as the face of the channel. The actor will be promoting WWE's programming in Tamil and Telugu.

Reckitt (India) has emerged as the largest advertisers in week 19 of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. The company's brands also dominated the top ten brands list this week from the leading brand, Dettol Toilet Soaps to Dettol Multi-use wipes, which are all in the top ten list. 

Reckitt (India) replaced Hindustan Unilever and led the advertiser’s list in week 19. The company registered 5558.14 (000 secs) advertising volume followed by HUL in the second position with 4734.3 (000 secs) ad volume.  Meanwhile, Cadbury India stood at third spot with 794.7 (000 secs) ad volume and Brooke Bond Lipton India on the fourth position with 771.55  (000 secs) ad volume.