Sony ropes in 10 sponsors for Kaun Banega Crorepati

Insearchindia.com Team

(31 August 2012 1:01 am)

MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television (Set) has roped in eight associate sponsors and two title sponsors for the sixth season of its premium game show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.

The channel has once again got Cadbury as the title sponsor on board while the show is powered by Idea. The associate sponsors for the show are Axis Bank, Just Dial, Ceat, Maruti, Sony India, Hero Motor Corp and Aakash Institute. Sony might extend the number to 11 by bringing one more associate sponsor on board.

MSM president network sales, licensing and telephony Rohit Gupta said, “KBC is an impact property and we have received great response from the advertisers for this season too. We are expecting to grow by 20-25 per cent this season.”

As reported earlier, Kaun Banega Crorepati 5 had made Rs 2 billion from ad revenue.

Gupta said that 70 per cent of the inventory would be consumed by sponsors. "The remaining 30 per cent will be for spot buys. There is some inventory left for spot buys that we are looking to sell during festive season of Diwali so that we can charge a higher premium. Right now we are offering a packaged deal for spot buyers who are advertising for all the episodes," he added.

Starting 7 September, Kaun Banega Crorepati 6, will air Friday-Sunday at 8.30 pm. The show this season will air for 21 weekends with 58 episodes. It will also comprise special episodes with “unique” and “distinct” themes which will capture a little bit of India in every episode, lined up to ignite the minds and hearts of Indian audiences, the channel said.

“It is a glorious moment for all of us at Sony to bring back another power packed season of the magnificent game show Kaun Banega Crorepati on our network, This year’s theme ‘Sirf Gyaan Hi Aapko Aapka Haq Dilata Hai’ celebrates knowledge as the greatest leveller in our society and a potent change agent,” Multi Screen Media COO N.P Singh said in a statement.

LCOs ask for separate regulator for cable operators

Insearchindia.com Team

(21 August 2012 1:49 am)

NEW DELHI: Local cable operators (LCOs) are demanding the creation of a separate Cable Television Regulatory Authority of India to deal with issues relating to broadcasting on the ground that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) comprising experts in telecom is ill-equipped to deal with their issues.

The LCOs have suggested that all cable TV operators should become members of the Council of Cable TV of India which should be given recognition and representation by the Government on all relevant platforms.

Attempting to form a united stand on common issues, the LCOs have said that the issuance of licences should move away from the post offices to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry as this would ensure no unruly elements come into the business. They have also blamed the post offices for refusing to issue licences to LCOs after registering them.

The LCOs protested against the Trai's Tariff Order for digital addressable cable which had fixed a revenue share of Rs 45 from the basic service tier, saying that it was highly unjust since they were already getting Rs 82 under the Cas-mandated system.

The LCOs were attending a two-day conference of cable TV operators from different parts of the country.

The National Conference of Indian Broadcasting and CATV Industry had been organised by the All India Aavishkaar Dish Antennae Sangh with the aim to apprise the LCOs from all over the country with the latest developments in digitisation and to also form a united stand on common issues.

Dr A K Rastogi, president of the Sangh, said that all channels should flash the rates of encrypted (pay channels) clearly so that the viewer and the LCO is aware of the rate to ensure transparency.

Senior consultant V C Khare lashed out at Trai for not having coming out with a clear-cut rate card for pay TV under DAS.

He also regretted that while the amended Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act referred to right of way for LCOs and said they can use electricity poles, there was nothing about this in the Rules issued under the Act.

Khare also said it was surprising that cable TV was not listed on the Central Government list when broadcasting was a central and not state subject.

 Rastogi stressed the need to train cable TV technicians, and the announced training by the Broadcasting Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd. (BECIL) had not yielded any tangible results. He urged all LCOs to hold meetings with their subscribers and Resident Welfare Associations to apprise them about the need for installing set-top boxes (STBs).

He said both Mumbai and Delhi now had adequate STBs to go digital, but the state governments in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu were not keen on going digital. This may create impediments in the first phase of digitisation slated for 1 November.

LCOs should form district-level committees to ensure speedy implementation of digitisation, Rastogi added.

He called for an exemption of import duty on new STBs and a tax holiday for at least ten years for all work relating to digitisation.

The cable TV should be recognised as an information infrastructure industry, Rastogi added.

Hindi GECs shed GRPs, Sab alone gains.

Insearchindia.com Team

(9 August 2012 1:25 am)

MUMBAI: In a week when the other GECs lost or maintained GRPs, Sab from the Sony Entertainment stable was the only channel to notch an increase when its numbers rose from 132 to 138. While Sab gained, its bigger sister channel Set shed some 29 GRPs at 206, even as shows such as Bade Ache Lagte Hain, Crime Petrol, CID, Kya Hua Tera Vada lost numbers.

As per TAM data (HSM, C&S 4+) sourced from Hindi GECs, Star Plus managed to retain its number one position even as it lost nine GRPs at 243. It's much touted show Satyamev Jayate closed its first season with a respectable rating of 1.9.

Zee TV went back to its No 2 spot this week after a gap of a fortnight, losing 11 GRPs with its closing of 211 GRPs. Some key properties like DID lil Masters, Punar Vivah and Mrs Kaushik…also saw a dip in ratings.

Colors, at No 4, is lagging three points behind Sony with 203 GRPs (last week 228). It was status quo at the bottom of the ladder with Life OK, the second GEC from Star Network, ending the week with 107 GRPs. Sahara One with 34 GRPs (last week 41) remains at the bottom of the ladder.

Overall the GEC genre has seen a loss of 74 GRPs in the week ended 4 August due to audience shift to other channels because of the premiere of Housefull 2 on 29 July on Star Gold that rated 3.8 TVR and India-Sri Lanka ODI matches on 31 July (2.4 TVR) and 4 August (2.3 TVR) in the prime time slot.

The launch of Olympics on 27 July and power failure in North India on 29 and 30 July have also contributed to the decrease in GEC viewership. The power failure affected six states including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Sony narrows gap with genre leader Star Plus

Insearchindia.com Team

(2 August 2012 10:09 am)

MUMBAI: The folks at Sony Entertainment Television (Set) are popping the bubbly. Reason: for the second week in a row, the lead channel in the Multiscreen Media (MSM) stable has held on its second spot in the Hindi GEC pecking order. And not just that: it has chomped away another seven GRPs from the entire GEC pie, coming very close to snatching leadership from numero uno Star Plus with its ratings figure of 235.

As per TAM data (C&S, 4+, HSM) provided by Hindi GECs, Set is just eight GRPs away from Star Plus riding on the back of its leading fiction property Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, that garnered 4.8 TVR (last week 4.2 TVR).

Set is also banking upon its crime-based fiction shows - Crime Patrol that saw an increase in viewership to 4.1 TVR (last week 3.8 TVR) and C.I.D which garners an average of 3.5-plus TVR.

Sony sees an opportunity to occupy the leadership chair with the soon-to-launch Amitabh Bachchan anchored show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).

Says Anita Nayyar, who is joining Havas Media back as the India and South Asia CEO, “Historically, Sony has not been very consistent when it comes to ratings. But the channel has been doing consistently well since the past one year or so. Its shows like Bade Achhe Lagte hain have been doing well for them. The launch of KBC could be a gainer for Sony to some extent and could see it achieving new peaks. It will be a very close contender for the No.1 position.”

And that will be some achievement for team Set - including Sneha Rajani, COO NP Singh, CEO ManJit Singh and president Rohit Gupta.

Aegis Media CEO South Asia Ashish Bhasin does not expect Star India to take things lying down and allow SET to go ahead of it. Says he: "I am sure that Star Plus will come with something to fight and retain its position."

He, however, cautions that long term trends should be borne in mind before coming to any conclusions. Says he: “I don’t think that the data should be seen on week to week basis. The ranking of Star Plus, Sony, Colors and Zee TV will keep varying depending on one or two programmers that will be a hit for few weeks. In long term if somebody is falling behind, it will have an effect, but if in one week one channel is ahead and in the second week the other is ahead it won’t make much of a difference in the long run."

While for the second week in a row SET has gained, Star Plus has shaved 11 GRPs to end with 243 GRPs this week. Its leading fiction shows like Diya Aur Bati Hum and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai have seen a slight dip in viewership.

Colors on its part is at the No 3 spot with 228 GRPs, gaining some 14 GRPs. In the week ended 28 July, Colors' fiction show on child marriage Balika Vadhu has rated 4.3 TVR (last week 3.8). Its other fiction properties like Kairi, Sasural Simar Ka and Madhubala have also seen growths in viewership.

Zee TV, meanwhile, added a GRP to close the week with 222 GRPs. Its flagship dancing reality show DID lil Masters continues to garner good numbers. The Saturday episode of the show registered 5 TVR (last week 4.4) while the Sunday episode clocked 4.7 TVR (last week 3.9).

The second GEC from Sony Entertainment Network bouquet Sab added three GRPs to clock 132 GRPs while Life OK from the Star Network bouquet added six GRPs to record 107 GRPs. Sahara One with 42 GRPs (last week 41) remains at the bottom of the ladder.

ESPN Star Sports bags Sri Lanka Premier League rights

Insearchindia.com Team

(23 July 2012 7:00 pm)

MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has reached a multi-year broadcast rights agreement for coverage of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL).

In addition to India, ESS will also air SLPL in other markets like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Sri Lanka becomes the 6th cricket body with whom ESS is working on the shortest form of the game. ESS already has the rights to existing T20 leagues from Australia (Big Bash League), England (Pro T20), Bangladesh (Bangladesh Premier League), CLT20 and ICC WT20. The IPL, the most-watched and lucrative T20 format, however, is with Multi Screen Media (earlier known as Sony Entertainment Television India).

The multi-year deal includes a minimum of 24 T20 matches per season. Star Cricket, Star Sports and ESPN will broadcast all the matches from 11 August.

The first edition of the SLPL will see seven provisional teams compete for the trophy as well as a qualifier berth to the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) to be held later this year.

ESS MD Peter Hutton said, "We are delighted to be able to telecast the live matches of the SLPL in India and throughout the region. It is an excellent addition to Star Cricket's remarkable catalogue of content in the next year, headlined by India's home series against Pakistan, England and New Zealand, the ICC World T20, the Champions League T20 and the ICC Champions trophy. We look to further growing our live cricket content."

The SLPL will feature 42 international players participating from seven countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies. However, Indian players won't participate in SLPL following Indian cricket board's decision not to allow its players to take part in the league.

Digitisation: Broadcasters move Delhi HC

Insearchindia.com Team

(19 July 2012 7:03 pm)

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), Star India and Zee News Ltd have filed a petition in the Delhi High Court today, challenging the extension of digitisation deadline to 1 November in the four Metros.

The petitioners have contended that the Government did not have mandate to order an extension under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011.

"We have moved the court against the Government's decision to extend digitisation in the four metros, after mandating it. We also want to ensure that there is no further delay," Star India CEO Uday Shankar told Insearchindia.com.

After hearing the petition, the Delhi High Court has issued notice to the government of India and the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, seeking responses by 6 August.

Earlier, the Government had decided to defer the date of cable digital addressable systems (DAS) to 1 November in the first phase covering four metros.

The four-month delay from the earlier deadline of 1 July was announced on 20 June, bowing to pressure from the local cable operators, multi-system operators (MSOs) and some state governments.

Under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011, it had been mandated that the switchover of the existing analogue Cable TV networks to DAS should be by December 2014, in a phased manner. In respect of the four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, the digital switchover was mandated to come into effect from 1 July 2012.

However, the Government admitted in its order that the orders of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Tariff & Interconnection, and on the Quality of Service Regulations and the Consumer Complaint Redressal Regulations had not been substantially implemented. This had resulted in the slow pick up of set-top boxes (STBs) and the completion of the process of digitisation could not be completed by 30 June.

Trai willing to discuss with broadcasters on TV ad time issue

Insearchindia.com Team

(17 July 2012 11:19 pm)

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, whose diktat about television advertisements was challenged by broadcasters, says it is prepared to discuss the issue with organisations of the broadcasters.

This was stated today by its counsel Saket Singh when a petition by News Broadcasters Association and others challenging Trai’s ad regulations came up before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat).

Counsel said Trai was willing to look into various issues raised by the broadcasters which have opposed the move to put a cap on advertising time.

"There are issues we are willing to consider. We are looking in a broad manner," said the counsel. He said amendments can be made, whatever the issue.

Trai was granted its request for six months for this process by chairman Justice S B Sinha and member P K Rastogi.

Trai assured Tdsat that it would not implement its order and enforce the broadcasters to follow it till 30 August when the matter comes up for hearing.

Trai had issued a notification on 14 May limiting the duration of advertisements in TV channels to 12 minutes per hour. Any shortfall of advertisement duration in any hour cannot be carried over, the telecom regulator had said.

Trai in its regulation had also said that the minimum time gap between any two consecutive advertisement breaks should not be less than 15 minutes and not less than 30 minutes for movies.

However, Trai today also faced questions from the bench over the overlapping of its authority with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

"A jurisdiction issue cannot be decided by a statutory authority (Trai)," the tribunal pointed out.

Broadcasters, in their petition filed before Tdsat have questioned the powers of Trai contending that the sectoral regulator has no power to limit the ad times.

According to the broadcasters, such power vests with the Central government and that only it can issue such directions under The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

They further claimed that the present Trai Act, 1997, authorises the regulator to make only recommendations. "The authority has exceeded the mandate given to it by the Central government and instead of making recommendations to the government, proceeded with the formulation of the regulation," one of the broadcasters in its petition submitted before the Tdsat.

Moreover, by the said regulation, Trai has sought to regulate not only the parameters within which the ads would be carried by the broadcasters on their respective TV channels, but also determined the format, nature and duration of the ads to be carried on TV, the broadcaster said.

"The authority has very ingeniously sought to disguise content regulation as Standards of Quality of Service, which it is not entitled to do," said the petition.

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), News Broadcasters Association (NBA), and several channels had approached Tdsat against the Trai directive. On 12 June, Tdsat had issued a notice, asking Trai to file reply within three weeks. It also gave two weeks time to IBF and other broadcasters to file rejoinders over Trai's reply.