IPL sets floor price for new franchisees at $225 million

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IPL sets floor price for new franchisees at $225 million


Insearchindia.com Team

(Updated at 17 December 2009 9:25 pm)
(17 December 2009 7:35 pm)


MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has set the base price
for the bidding of two new franchisees at $225 million.

The auction takes place on 19 January 2010. The IPL will have
two new franchisees from 2011.



IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said that from the
third season the IPL will use HD production. All venues will
have CCTVs and turnstiles. There will be permanent cabling
for TV production.

The final of IPL 3.0 will take place at the DY Patil Stadium
in Navi Mumbai. The two semi-finals will be played in Bangalore.

Once IPL 3.0 is over, existing franchisees will be allowed to
retain a few core members of their current teams, the modalities
for which are to be announced shortly.

Modi said a licensing deal has been done with a watch company,
but declined to give further details.

Modi has apparently buried the hatchet with his baiters in the
BCCI. Clarified BCCI president Shashank Manohar, “Lalit Modi has
done an excellent job and he will complete his full term till 2012."

Meanwhile, James Rego has joined the IPL as head of production.
He was earlier with Nimbus where he worked as vice president for TV.

ESS launches ESPN NEWS on Singtel platform in Singapore

Insearchindia.com Team

(19 November 2009 11:20 pm)


MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has announced the launch of ESPN NEWS, the sports news channel dedicated to Asian sports fans, on SingTel’s Mio TV platform in Singapore.

ESS is also interested to get the channel to India and has applied to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for its clearance.

Consisting of highlights, scores, updates and sports information, ESPN NEWS will provide real-time sports news.



The new channel will deliver content from local, regional and international sporting events.

ESS MD Manu Sawhney commented, “As Asia’s leading sports broadcaster, the launch of ESPN NEWS, the first 24/7 sports news channel dedicated to Asian sports fans, is a defining moment for us and I’m delighted to share this with our valued partner SingTel.”

The channel’s layout features four main data streams - a ‘video window’ carrying all the sports action and highlights; a ‘bottom line’ graphic streaming results and upcoming fixtures, a ‘top line’ graphic which provides a continuous update of news, and the ‘sideline’ graphic which will provide the latest standings, rankings and statistics from the professional leagues around the world.




“We are excited about welcoming ESPN NEWS as the first of several ESS channels that will be coming onto the Mio TV platform. Mio TV is fast gaining traction as a serious player in the sports broadcasting arena, and we are certain that the synergy that comes out of this partnership will ensure an excellent experience for all sports fans in Singapore,” said Singtel VP (Mio TV) Tim Carmichael.

Currently launched with an English voice-over, ESPN NEWS will also be available in Cantonese and Bahasa Melayu at a later date.

The channel is currently available free to all Mio TV subscribers till 17 December, and subsequently will be available at no additional cost to those who sign up for the Barclays Premier League 2010/11 with 'ESPN STAR Sports Channels Early Bird' offer. It will also be available on an a la carte basis at $8.90.

ESPN NEWS is already available in Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam and will be rolled out across other markets in the region in the coming months.

Sony Pictures' 2012 set to break box-office records

By inserachindia.com Team (13 November 2009 6:55 pm)

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures' 2012, the biggest-ever Hollywood release in India that opened today in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu is all set to break box-office records. In its opening day, the film grossed Rs. 56 million. With a total of 676 prints in 716 screens across the country, 2012 is already creating records of sorts with theaters in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi NCR, Indore, Nagpur, Jaipur, Gwalior, Hyderabad, seeing full houses throughout the day. Cinemas like Inox, Gold, Fame, Citypride and Mangala in Pune and PVR and Inox Garuda in Bangalore have reported a full house for three days from Friday to Sunday. Comments Sony Pictures India managing director Kercy Daruwala, "While it is too early for hard numbers, judging from the good response, we are expecting the film to be one of the top-grossing Hollywood films of all time in the country following the steps of other blockbusters from our studio such as the Spider-Man series and Bond series. "The huge marketing campaign around the film and the major human interest in the doomsday concept seem to be the cause of this scale of response from the audience."

HITS policy coming by year-end: Soni

www.insearchindia.blogspot.com Team

(26 August 2009 7:15 pm)

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni assured today that the Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) policy would be in place by the end of this year. Though the policy had been finalised and placed before the Union Cabinet early this year, it could not be taken up. The policy based on the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), however, is at a final stage for decision.

HITS will speed up the process of digitisation of cable TV services across the country. Addressing the NEWS NEXT 2009 meet on Triumph over Travails organised by Times Now, Soni allayed fears that the government would clamp down on content on television or bring forward any content regulation without discussion. While her Ministry did not want to be identified only with content, the pace of dialogue on this with the stakeholders needed to be accelerated in view of pressures from the Courts, the National Commission for Women, and Parliament.

Soni expressed the hope that the Broadcast Services Regulation Bill would soon be given a final shape for introduction in Parliament. I&B Secretary Raghu Menon is currently holding discussions with stakeholders on the Bill. Referring to the concerns relating to TRPs and carriage, Soni said digitisation was the only answer. Reacting to views, she said the government was prepared to hold a dialogue on foreign direct investment. Addressing the various TV news heads present, she requested that at least 5 per cent of the 168-odd hours of news broadcasting should be devoted to success stories. She said her Ministry was presenting holding consultations with the Human Resources Development Ministry on issues such as royalty which had cropped up in connection with Phase III of FM Radio since the Copyright Act was administered by that Ministry. Remarking on Doordarshan, which completes 50 years next month, Soni said it was a "challenge" to bring it at par with other private television channels. "The biggest challenge before the Ministry today is to bring DD at par with other channels. DD has a big reach, maximum number of transmitters, even along border areas, and funding is also not a problem for it," Soni said. Soni said the new advertising policy was aimed at helping the small and medium newspapers.

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Animal Planet to launch 'Jockeys' on 11 August

(6 August 2009 9:20 pm)

MUMBAI: Animal Planet is set to launch Jockeys, a 12-part reality series, on 11 August. The series gives an insider-look of the competition and private lives of seven professional jockeys. It will be telecast every Tuesday at 10 pm. Says Discovery Networks Asia Pacific SVP and GM India Rahul Johri says, "Jockeys will showcase the lives of these sportsmen both on and off the race track. The series captures the range of emotions of jockeys who risk their lives, all for the love of the sport of horse racing."

'Moment of Truth' for GECs: Reality shows drive ratings

By ANINDITA SARKAR

(Updated at 22 July 2009 9:10 pm) (22 July 2009 2:30 pm)

MUMBAI: It's surely some 'reality' time for the Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) this season. After Rakhi Sawant's TV hunt for a partner did some GRP check for NDTV Imagine in its debut week, The Moment Of Truth's replica Sach Ka Saamna seems to be doing the right tricks for Star Plus. The show that had a one-hour run on its first day (15 July) has managed to fare well for Star Plus with a debut rating of 4.59. The 10.30 pm half-hour show has also averaged the week ended 18 July with a TVR of 4.3, reveals the latest Tam data (HSM, C&S 4+). Sach Ka Saamna, however, failed to disturb competition channel properties running during the same time band, indicating that the GEC genre has grown in the week. While Colors' Na Aana Is Des Laado maintained its average TVR at 3.8 during the week, Zee TV's Shree grabbed an average TVR of 3.3 (3.2 TVR in its previous week).

Sony pumps in Rs 30 mn to market its big ticket show 'Iss Jungle se Mujhe Bachao'

By ANURADHA RAMAMIRTHAM

(7 July 2009 4:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Currently under the overhaul spell, Sony Entertainment Television (Set) is pumping in close to Rs 30 million to market and promote its soon-to-launch big ticket show Iss Jungle se Mujhe Bachao. The one-hour show, based on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, will air on Sony from 13 July, replacing Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega.

While the marketing of the show will remain high across Sony's network channels, Iss Jungle… will also be promoted across other channels including Hindi news channels like Star News and Aaj Tak. Says Set marketing head Danish Khan, "We have booked 8000 TV spots across television channels from different genres. We have also booked spots across kids channels like Disney Channel, Hungama and Nick for maximum visibility." Khan, however, declined to comment on how much Sony would be spending towards marketing the show.

While television remains the preferred medium to build the show's brand and awareness proposition, Set will also exploit other media platforms like radio, digital and outdoor to support the brand-building process. As part of its radio promotion activity, the channel has tied up with stations such as Radio Mirchi, Radio City, Big FM and Red FM. "Radio will drive recency from 9 July onwards," avers Khan. Outdoor media, meanwhile, will be utilised to promote the channel's new property in Delhi and Mumbai. "The show will be branded across 200 Best buses in Mumbai. We are still negotiating for branding on local trains in Mumbai," adds Khan.

As part of its digital initiative, Sony is using the social media networks in a big way. "We had tried exploiting the medium for Bhaskar Bharti and it was successful. This time we are leveraging the web in a bigger way. We will have the show hosts Yudi and Mini Mathur blogging each day. Also, Iss Jungle… will be present on Facebook and on YouTube," avers Khan. Targeted at male and female audiences in the 15-34-age-group, Iss Jungle se Mujhe Bachao will be telecast from Monday-Thursday at 10 pm and on Fridays at 9 pm.

UTV earmarks Rs 9 billion for movies over 2 years

By Indiantelevision.com Team(29 April 2009 10:30 pm)

MUMBAI: UTV Software Communications plans to pump in Rs 9 billion for a mix of Hollywood and Bollywood movies spread over two years while warning that its margins will be under some pressure.
Indian language movies will take away Rs 4.2 billion while the Hollywood slate will consume Rs 2.3 billion. Additionally, UTV will be investing Rs 2.5 billion in inventories/debtors of released movies plus unexploited rights of recent releases like TV rights and VoD/PPV rights of its 2008-2009 releases.
A roster of 35 movies are on the floors or nearing release or in production. The slate includes Kaminey, Main Aur Mrs Khanna, Agyat, What's your Rashee, Wake Up Sid, Hook Ya Crook, Delhi Belly, Jihaad, A Wednesday (remake in Tamil and Telugu), Yahoo, Film City, Arjun, Alibaba & 41 Thieves, Ex-Terminators, Rajniti, Hawai Dada, Five movies of UTV SpotBoy (Aage Se Right, Pan Singh Tomar, Seasons Greetings, Peter Gaya Kaam Se and Chillar Party), Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, Anuraag Basu's next and Annees Bazmee directed comedy.
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UTV believes that it has bought the production cost under control. "We do admit that cost for producing movies had risen only due to market conditions and free flow of equity money and that hiked cost has also put pressure on our margins. UTV has not been immune to this industry-wide hike in costs but we believe we have brought this under control," UTV said in a release.
The benefits of total cost rationalization to pre 2007 days would, however, only be partly felt in 09-10 as many of its productions were already on the floor. But it said that they "fully realized and corrected from 10-11 onwards."
UTV will capture revenues of Namesake from the first quarter of 2009-10. "On The Happening, even though the theatrical release was only nine months back on 13 June'08, since it did well theatrically worldwide we have recognized part of the revenues in Q4 of 08-09 to the tune of Rs 306 million. We estimate that approximately 40 per cent of the cost invested in The Happening will flow in pre and of 09-10 and the balance in ensuing years," UTV said.
On The Happening, UTV estimates that on investments of approximately $34 million, the revenue flowing back to the company in its first cycle of exploitation would be between $39-42 million. Of course, a lot would depend on the TV exploitation which has just begun (for this year and may be into the next year there is a slowdown on TV syndication worldwide). The State of Pennsylvania has also given a tax rebate to The Happening of a little over $10 million.
"We believe co-owning the IPR and Negative Rights in perpetuity for 3 Hollywood Movies in our Balance Sheet will be a valuable asset and a source of regular annuity income, post its first exploitation cycle," UTV said.

India's ambitious solar power plans

Leslie D'Monte

India's Rs 4,800-crore (Rs 48 billion) solar power industry, which exports around 60 to 70 per cent of its wares to Europe, North America and China, seems to have taken a cue from the IT sector and is aiming for a greater foothold in the Indian market.
India, where most regions enjoy nearly 300 sunny days a year, is an ideal market for solar power companies. However, the high cost of light-to-electricity conversion - at Rs 12 to Rs 20 per kWh (kilowatt-hour) - has acted as a deterrent so far, according to Frost & Sullivan Deputy Director (Energy and Power Systems) Amol Kotwal.
Currently, India has around 60 companies assembling and supplying solar photovoltaic systems, nine companies manufacturing solar cells and 19 companies manufacturing photovoltaic modules or panels, according to an Indian Semiconductor Association study.
However, spurred by factors like an increased demand for clean power, an energy-starved industry and the falling cost of solar-power generation, companies in this space are coming up with a noteworthy number of domestic projects. It has also helped that the government is lending support to such projects through state electricity boards with subsidies.

CHILDREN OF THE IDIOT BOX

Following was article published in CoverT in 01 Jan 2009 Magazine.
Even if you read last two para you will understand more about me or my profession. Look forward to hear your comments
Regards





CHILDREN OF THE IDIOT BOX

By Mamta Sen

Maharashtra Labour Minister Nawab Malik has created a stir in the entertainment industry by sending notices to all television producers through the labour commissioner about the safety norms for child artistes working on the sets and the long hours they put in. Most television channels declined to comment on the notice, with some claiming that they had not even received it. But measures are being put in place to ensure that the child actors do not disclose information about their work conditions and schedules.

Television channel Colors which is airing at least four serials with children in the lead — Balika Vadhu, Uttaran, Jai Sri Krishna and Chhote Miyan — was not particularly forthcoming on this. Programming head Ashvini Yardi pointed out that these serials try to focus on social issues that have never before been dealt with on Indian television. “Our single biggest priority is to offer programming that will help break through the clutter and this is why you will see us deliver a strong proposition of differentiation and distinctive content,” she said.

The channel has ensured that children acting in its serials do not interact with the media. This has reportedly been incorporated in formal agreements, according to a family friend of Balika Vadhu’s lead character Avika Gor who plays the role of Anandi.

Eleven-year-old Avika is today the most sought after face on Indian television. She has won an award for Best Female Child Artiste, as well as for Best Female Newcomer, Best Female Artiste, and Best Fresh Face, outdoing senior actresses. Rumours are, Avika, who is earning lakhs of rupees, has stopped going to school. Numerous calls to her father Sameer by this correspondent went unanswered. Avika has also started modelling and recently walked the ramp for an imitation jewellery designer at a five-star hotel. She is also making her debut in a movie Paathshala with actor Shahid Kapoor. It also stars her “rival”, ten-year-old Swini Khara.

Swini had made audiences sit up with her crisp performance in Balki’s Cheeni Kum starring Amitabh Bachchan, where she played the role a terminally ill patient. She began her career as a three-year-old modelling for Ajanta toothpaste and hit the big screen with Kalpana Lajmi’s Chingari and Hari Puttar. Her forthcoming films include Paathshala [with Avika] and Kaalo, as well as a voice over in Nikhil Advani’s Ab Delhi Door Nahin. Swini, who was nominated for Best Child Artiste [female] along with Avika for her role in Baa Bahoo aur Baby on Star Plus, confesses that though she does get tired, it is the sheer enjoyment of acting that keeps her going. Her mother Shilpa though believes work schedules often differ with each production house. “Swini generally does shooting after school, but we prefer commercials to films or serials since they wrap up pretty fast. We often tend to bunk school for commercials since they usually take up an entire day,” the mother said, adding that children too should be compensated since school is kind of “work” for them. “Juggling school and shootings together often takes a toll, but Swini carries her school books to the film sets and studies between shots,” said Shilpa, refusing to answer how much her daughter is paid for her long hours of work. She admitted, however, that the competition was getting extremely stiff.

Casting director Mona Irani, who has been working with child actors for the last 16 years, said, “Earlier there used to be a mere ten kids auditioning for one role. Now around 150-200 kids land up, out of which only one will probably be selected.” She said that this increase in numbers has become noticeable over the past five years. “There is a lot of talent, it is just a question of getting the right break,” she said. Mona was of the view that more than producers, parents need to be pulled up by the Government for pushing their children to the brink.

“Parents themselves give permission for their kids to shoot for 14 hours at a stretch. The notice should have been sent to them instead. Most parents want their kids to be mini-stars. Once the child gets a taste of fame they stop him or her from going to school. Quick money and instant recognition is what drives parents to push their children to such limits. They are trying to live their dreams through the child,” said Mona, adding that the remuneration ranges between Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh a day.

Money, and not safety, is of utmost importance, according to several coordinators in the entertainment industry. A modelling coordinator confided that film sets were often not safe for child actors. “You often have men, specially technicians, landing up drunk on the sets and I have seen kids left alone by parents to fend for themselves, with no separate rooms for them to relax. So yes, they are vulnerable and it is almost as if we are waiting for a disaster to happen,” he said.

Hansika Motwani, a former child artiste who made her debut opposite Himesh Reshammiya in Aap Kaa Surroor: The Real Luv Story last year, is a case in point. “Her mother used to call the shots. The child at eleven years was even made to act as a rape victim in a movie called Jaago based on a real life incident. This movie catapulted her to the status of the highest paid child actor then. Though the girl is only 18 years old today, she looks over 30 and has hardly made an impact as a heroine,” insiders point out.

“The child should be given an opportunity to decide,” according to theatre artiste Debashish Chanda whose two daughters Swarna and Prothoma have been acting in serials since three years old. While Swarna [9] has acted in Neelanjana on 9X, Prothoma [6] is busy doing commercials. “Work only depends on the number of scenes per day and yes, though juggling school and shooting is tiresome, one cannot help it,” Debashish said. He admitted to being disappointed if his children failed the auditions, adding, “Favouritism is rampant here as well; which is why I have registered my kids in the Cine Artiste Association as members to protect them from being taken for a ride.”

Swarna, of course, did not know what the fuss was all about. “Sometimes I do get tired but it’s okay. In school I am the only one who is famous and I love it when everyone notices me,” she said with a big smile [¼]

REALITY BITES FILM STARS

The small screen has always been regarded as the last hope for resurrecting one’s acting career. Amitabh Bachchan gave a shot to his career with Kaun Banega Crorepati?, a lead that several actors followed. TRP ratings for Salman Khan’s Dus Ka Dum, Shah Rukh Khan’s Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hai? and Akshay Kumar’s Fear Factor remained low and dissuaded others from anchoring similar shows. Instead, film personalities decided to play the role of celebrity judges in several song and dance reality shows, rather than actually acting in teleserials as was the case over a decade ago. Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge, Star Voice of India, Nach Baliye and Jhalak Dhikhhla Jaa are some of the more popular shows where celebrities take on the role of strict judges, often relaxing sufficiently to sing or dance with the contestants.

To spice up their shows, the channels are wooing film personalities who are in great demand. Nach Baliye 4 has Farah Khan, Arjun Rampal and Karisma Kapoor as its judges, while the relatively new dance show, Dancing Queen has Hema Malini and Jeetendra.

Rajesh Kamat, chief executive officer of Colors, says that proper weekend programming along with a good choice of celebrities as anchors is the formula for a successful show. However, as sources pointed out, for many of the film personalities the show becomes an opportunity to project their ongoing films. For instance, Deepika Padukone has paired up with MTV Roadies with the return benefit of publicising her new movie Chandni Chowk to China. “I too have been an avid watcher of the show and I think it is a complete blast,” she said when asked about this.

Makarand Wadekar, principal consultant for I Search which tracks TRP points, said that several reality shows were running on advertising revenue and a celebrity was taken on as a judge simply to raise the ratings. “But if the script and idea of a particular show are clear and bold enough to pass on the real message then celebrities are not used for the show,” he said giving the example of Sony TV where the song-based shows enjoy the highest TRP ratings currently.

As for reality channels, two will be launched by CNBC-TV 18 and Turner International on 1 January 2009. The total investment for these over the next three years is expected to be US $39 billion of which $12 billion has already been invested in India. Sports 18 of CNBC will also start operating with an adventure reality show called Volvo Ocean Rally.


--
Makarand Wadekar
Principle Consultant
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