Hindi GEC Zee TV is launching a new show Bhootu which will air at 6.30 pm every
Mon to Fri from 21st Aug, 20z17. Produced by Essel Vision Productions, Bhootu will replace the channel’s existing show Bin Kuch Kahe, a romantic drama which was launched this year in Jan.
Indian Girl Wins $10000 In Global Online Singing Contest
Downloading a singing app turned Richa Peter Topno into a star overnight. Richa is the 1st ever Indian winner of the 10 Grand Challenge, the singing contest hosted by StarMaker, a user generated music=tvideo platform. The online singing contest allows the participant to record a solo cover with its mobile app, and submit it to participate in the challenge. Richa Peter Topno on with an astounding 369904 votes from amongst more than 25000 participants from all over the world.
Zee & Big FM Begin Content Integration
Content integration between Zee & Big FM has started following Zee Media Corporation’s (ZMCL) acquisition of stake in Anil Ambani’s FM radio business. Big FM is short listing shows based on its standing of “Suno Sunao Life Banao”. Apart from &TV’s Bhabhiji Ghar Pe Hai, the FM network has also integrated Zee TV’s popular singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs. The FM station has added the show to its programming & features contestants singing unplugged versions of songs as well as interactions with the audiences.
Social Media Platform Musical.ly To Make Its India Debut
Social media platform musical.ly, which claims to be the world’s largest creative platform, will soon be making its debut in India. The platform makes it easy for everyone to make videos and share with friends or to the world. The platform already has over 8 million organic users in India, with numbers growing every day. Launched in 2014 by the Chinese duo Alex Zhu & Luyu Yang, the platform has amassed 240 million users globally, millions of who use musical.ly as an outlet to express themselves through singing, dancing, comedy & creative animations.
4 FDI Proposals Pending With MIB
In the aftermath of the abolition of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), there is a backlog of 99 foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals with varied ministries / departments, including 4 with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB). This information was provided by Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. The government, through the erstwhile FIPB, had been considering & taking decisions on FDI proposals in the sectors on approval route, she said.
GTPL Hathway Q1 Net Down 26% QoQ
Multi – system operator (MSO) GTPL Hathway’s standalone net profit has shrunk 26% to Rs 14.8 crore for the quarter ended 30th Jun, compared to Rs 20.1 crore in the trailing quarter ended 31 March. EBITDA was down 10% to Rs 57 crore compared to Rs 81.5 crore a quarter ago. The company’s total revenue decreased 5% to Rs 178.2 crore due to a fall in other income of 59%. Expenditure dropped 3 percentage points to Rs 121.1 crore from Rs 177.7 crore. Subscription revenue increased 7% quarter -on – quarter (QoQ) to Rs 90.3 crore.
AXN To Premiere Ray Donovan Season 5
English entertainment channel AXN is all set to premiere Season 5 of Ray Donovan, featuring Academy Award winning actress Susan Sarandon. The show will air from 13th Aug, 2017 every Sun at 11 pm. It will be aired under its property “Fresh From The US”.
Flipkart & Sanyo To Enter Into Exclusive Partnership
Flipkart today announced its exclusive partnership with renowned Japanese television maker Sanyo to launch its brand new NXT TV series on the e – commerce platform. The NXT TV series will be available to customers beginning 9th Aug, 2017. The tie – up comes during the “Month Of Partners” in Flipkart’s Big 10 celebrations, a time the company has dedicated to recognise & thank its partners for their unending support over the past decade.
DSport Acquires Rights
Discovery Communications India’s sports channel DSport has acquired long – term rights to broadcast the PGA Championships in India. The 99th PGA Championships are set to be held at the Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, which will host a golf major for the very 1st time, from 10th Aug, 2017 to 13th Aug, 2017. The club holds an annual event on the PGA Tour, the Wells Fargo Championship, besides having hosted several pro – events.
Disney To End Distribution Deal
Disney has decided to end its distribution agreement with Netflix for new movie releases and is planning to launch its own streaming service in 2019. On 8th Aug, 2017 the company announced its plan to end its partnership with the streaming service in 2019. The company also announced that it is buying majority stake in BAMTech, a streaming & marketing service, in a deal worth $1.58 billion. Last Aug, Disney acquired a 33% stake in BAMTech, which is a spinoff from Major League Baseball Advanced Media, for $1 billion. The company announced the plans as part of reporting fiscal Q3 earnings.
Sony BBC Earth To Launch A New show
Sony BBC Earth will showcase some of the Nature’s Epic Journeys every Sat & Sun at 9 pm under the slot “Earth Specials”. Starting 12th Aug, 2017 the show will offer a perspective on animal migration through the eyes of elephants, zebras & caribou. With the latest satellite – tagging technology, the series follows the precise journeys of individual animals as they travel across miles, overcoming obstacles & fearlessly facing predators.
Discovery & YuppTV New Buyers
Discovery Communications & Emerald Media – backed OTT operator YuppTV are the new players who could make a bid for the IPL media rights. The 2 companies have bought bid documents for the Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights. While Discovery has launched a sports channel DSport and could be looking at TV rights, YuppTV could eye digital rights. Companies who had earlier purchased documents will not have to buy again.
KBC 9 On TV From 28th Aug 2017
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is all set to launch its popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati in Sept, 2017. The Amitabh Bachchan – hosted show, which is coming back in its 9th season after 3 years, will be aired at 9 pm, every Mon to Fri. The new season will replace the channel’s other show Beyhadh, which will shoot its last episode on 22nd Aug, 2017.
Kalanithi Maran’s Kal Cables Gets Interim Relief
Kalanithi Maran – promoted Kal Cables will be able to continue transmitting signals in analogue mode. The Madras High Court has granted interim relief to the multi – system operator (MSO) against a Central Government order that mandates all cable TV networks to transmit signals in digital mode. Kal Cables was allowed to transmit analogue signals by Justice M. Duraiswamy after its counsel & senior advocate A. R. L. Sundaresan submitted that state – run Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd had been granted an extension.
Tata Sky Celebrates 11th Anniversary
To mark its 11th anniversary, DTH platform Tata Sky is introducing its 1st ever official blog, Tata Sky Blogbuster. Tata Sky Blogbuster will cover original & exclusive pieces of content on trending topics in the field of movies a television entertainment. The topics on the blog range from lifestyle, sports, entertainment, regional content, self – help to DIY. The blog will also keeps its viewers entertained & engaged through videos, interactive games, listicles and more.
Epic Channel’s Umeed India Infotainment Channel
Epic recently launched a new inspiring series titled Umeed India, which is hosted by former cricketer Virender Sehwag. The show follows the lives of 13 seasoned sport spersons who are training for Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Aiming to empower these champions, the channel is launching a crowdfunding initiative in association with ImpactGuru.com.
Sony Max To Air South Indian Dubbed Horror Films
Sony Max, the leading Hindi movie & special events channel, will throw the ultimate scream into your drawing rooms with the most shuddering South Indian horror movies every Sat at 8 pm, starting 12th Aug, 2017 onwards until 26th Aug, 2017. The channel brings an assortment of some of the best horror movies with a tinge of comedy.
TRAI Chairman To Make STB
Cable TV & direct – to – home (DTH) subscribers will be able to switch their service providers without changing their set – top box (STB) from next year. At least that is what the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman R S Sharma is working towards and believes substantial progress has been made to make this possible. Centre for Development of Telematics (CDoT) has readied a prototype to showcase the technology for interoperability of STBs.
ZEEL Expects To Receive $40 MN
ZEEL is expecting to receive $40 million from the 2nd phase of the sale of its sports business to Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), a top company official has said. The company hopes to close the 2nd phase of the deal, comprising the international business of Ten Sports Network, by Aug, 2017 end or the beginning of Sept, 2017 Earlier, ZEEL had received $330 million from the sale of the India part of Ten Sports.
DD To Auction Vacant Freedish Slots
Public broadcaster Doordarshan will auction vacant slots in non – news category on its free direct – to – home (DTH) platform Freedish on 22nd Aug, 2017. The reserve price for the 37th e – auction is all set at Rs 8 crore. In the previous e – auction, the DTH platform had sold 11 slots, which included 3 news & 8 non – news, for a record Rs 85.1 crore. The reserve price for non – news channels was Rs 8 crore, while the same for news channels was Rs 6.5 crore.
Sony Renews Partnership
Putting an end to all rumours of The Kapil Sharma Show going off air, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) & Kapil Sharma have extended their partnership for the comedy show by another year.
Star Plus Partners With Sujoy Ghosh
Hindi GEC Star Plus has tied up with renowned filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh for 3 short films. The short films will be aired on the channel during the festive season later this year. The 3 telefilms will be full of unanticipated turns & twists, which is characteristic of Sujouy Ghosh’s signature style of filmmaking.
GTPL Issues Notice To Zee & Turner
Multi – system operator (MSO) GTPL Hathway has issued a notice informing its customers that all ZEEL, Zee Media Corporation & Turner International India channels will not be available as part of its package. The 2 sides have failed to reach an agreement on renewing the existing distribution deal. Subscribers have to subscribe to channels from these 3 broadcasters on a a la carte basis with effect from 18th Aug, 2017.
TDSAT Asks Videocon D2h To Pay Rs 27.80 cr
The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal ( TDSAT) has asked broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India not to disconnect signals to Videocon d2h, provided the DTH operator pays Rs 27.80 crore upfront within 1 week. Sony had issued a disconnection notice to Videocon d2h for non – payment of outstanding dues. The DTH operator moved the TDSAT to restrain the broadcaster from giving effect to the notice. The broadcaster has claimed that the DTH operator owes it Rs 57.56 crore. Videocon d2h, however, has contended that the same is Rs 27.8 crore.
Freedish Capacity Upgraded
Information & Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani has said that public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has finished upgrading DD’s free direct – to – home (DTH) platform Freedish for 104 channels with new compression technology (MPEG 4). Presently, 80 TV channels with existing MPEG 2 technology are operational. This upgrade has been done in line with the recommendations of Sam Pitroda Committee.
Star India Confirms Leak
The 4th episode of HBO’s popular series Game Of Thrones 7, which was due to release globally on 6th Aug, 2017 was leaked online on 4th Aug, 2017. The network’s distribution partner Star India has issued a statement accepting that the compromise took place from their end. Star India confirmed it was a separate hack from the one that happened earlier this week. Multiple screenshots of the episode were shared across social media platforms and each of it carried the Star India watermark. The screenshot also had for internal viewing only” written in bold.
B4U Network Partners CPL team
B4U Network has tied up with St Lucia Stars cricket team for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which kicked off on 4th Aug 2017, and would end on 9th Sept, 2017. B4U is the primary South Asian media partner for the team that includes Shane Watson, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuel, Kamran Akmal and a host of others.
Sony Renews Deal
Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) has renewed the deal to broadcast the 5th edition of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in the Indian sub – continent. The league, which features a bevy of cricket stars like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Brendon McCullum & Dwayne Bravo, will commence on 4th Aug, 2017 and culminate on 9th Sept, 2017. The league will be broadcast live in the Indian sub – continent including countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan Nepal & Maldives, besides India.
