International: BBC StoryWorks today launches two new campaigns in response to the United Nations’ global callout to creatives to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The BBC’s in-house branded content division responded to the challenge with two ideas, which were among 17,000 entries submitted to the UN,to translate critical public health messages into content that engages and informs the public across different cultures, languages, communities, and platforms.

Both campaigns were created in ways that avoided the need for travel or filming in close proximity and therefore adhered to the social distancing guidelines which they promote.

“Maintain distance. Maintain community” is an animation-led execution which explores what physical distancing looks like and means around the world, and highlights our similarities, differences, and connections across continents and cultures. Rae Morris kindly permitted the use of her track Someone out There to compliment the animations, which were licensed through Universal Music Publishing Group.

Network18 Media & Investments Limited today announced its results for the quarter ended 30th June 2020.

The company saw a 35% decline in operating revenue in Q1FY21 compared to Q1FY20. The figure stood at Rs 807 crore in Q1FY21,against Rs 1,245 crore in Q1FY20.

Providing a breakup, the network in a statement said, the operating revenue of news business (TV18) stood at Rs 230 crore, a 23% decline from Rs 298 crore recorded in Q1FY20. The entertainment business (Viacom18+AETN18+Indiacast) saw a 39% fall in revenue, declining from Rs 899 crore in Q1FY20 to Rs 546 crore in Q1FY21.

The consolidated Operating EBITDA stood at Rs 27 crore in Q1FY21 compared to Rs 46 crore in Q1FY20, a decline of 41%.

According to the company, linear TV subscription revenue remained resilient, wth 6% YoY growth in Q1.

"Digital remained a growth area across both News and Entertainment portfolios, with increased engagement witnessed in properties having strong brands. Flagship news portal

Chrome Data Analytics and Media’s Optimal+ data has released the comparative study of the performance of various brands in week 27 against week 26. The report categorizes the performance of brands under three broad categories namely Most Watched ads, Most Aired ads and the Most Liked ads based on analysis of data involving 34000-panel homes across the country.

Most Aired:

This week we see new entrant Whatsapp leading the category followed by advertisement by the Ministry of Health &Family Welfare that led the category last week, while there hasn’t been any change in the last 3 spots and they are still led by Clinic Plus Shampoo, Ponds White Beauty & Sunsilk Black Shine.

Most Watched:

This week we see a lot of changes in this category, with Vicks 3 in 1 moving up and leading the category followed by new entrants LUX Toilet Soaps & Vicks Vapourub on the 2nd and 3rd spot, while we see previous week’s leader Tide Plus Extra Powder securing the 4th spot this week and for the 5th spot, we have previous week’s player Head & Shoulders.

Most Liked:

This week for the Most Liked category we have all new 5 new entrants; they are Whatsapp, Dove Conditioner, Brooke Bond, Bru Instant, Liril Lime Fresh, and Lifebuoy Hand Sanitizer.

KOLKATA: Even as the doomsayers have been predicting impending doom for India’s television business and tomtomming the growth of streaming services, Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal and IndiaCast Media Distribution Group CEO Anuj Gandhi believe that there’s tremendous scope to grow pay-TV in India. Taking part in a roundtable as part of Media Partners Asia’s virtual APOS 2020, both said television has barely been penetrated yet. 

Tata Sky’s Harit Nagpal - who's running, arguably, one of India's most respected DTH platforms - highlighted that there is a distribution game which needs to be played well. Nagpal mentioned two ways that the business can get a growth impetus: one is reaching out to the un-penetrated households and secondly selling more to existing consumers.

#Censor_Web_Series, a top Twitter trend on Sunday, was well-timed considering the newly formed resolve by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to set an institutionalised self-regulatory body for OTT platforms, similar to the Press Council of India for the print industry and Censor Board of Film Certification for the cinema industry.

Call for entries open for BuzzInContent Awards 2020 ENTER NOW

Given the spread and the impact OTT is fast making in India, there have been repeated demands from vested interested groups wanting MIB to bring OTT content under government regulation. Although MIB and MeiTY do not want to regulate OTT content, they are pushing stakeholders to discuss and put together a self-regulatory mechanism on the lines of BCCC in the linear broadcasting space.

Despite MIB’s constant pushing and prodding so far, the OTT platforms failed to meet the 100 days deadline given in March by the I&B Minister, Prakash Javadekar, under whose chairmanship the Ministry met with a group of OTT companies under the aegis of IAMAI.

Noida: As part of an ongoing evolution, ABP News Network has changed its brand name to ‘ABP Network’. Along with its redesigned logo, the new name comprises part of a comprehensive repositioning strategy with a novel brand identity, designed to mirror the growth and transformation of the company.

This brand identity represents an evolution of the organization’s previous roots. In its new avatar, ABP Network will be expanding its offerings ‘beyond news’ to allied spheres such as content creation, production, brand solutions, and more. While driving its innovative offerings, the media conglomerate will invest in cutting-edge technology, providing best-in-class solutions to clients, and crafting engaging experiences to nurture an empowered society.

The COVID pandemic has posted major challenges to the overall economy amidst the lockdown. The coronavirus had already impacted the way brands, agencies, and media organizations work. While India’s leading agencies and brands had witnessed a downfall in the revenue as most the businesses are shut, the media outlets had been on track despite the challenges. V. Chandrasekar, Consulting COO, News7 Tamil, speaks on how regional news channels functioned during this pandemic and how brands, agencies should work together to achieve greater results.

Edited excerpts.

With entertainment channels confirmed only to movies, repeat telecasts, and fictional content with limitations, how News as a genre had gained prominence in an Indian household?

During Covid-19 the viewership for News content saw a phenomenal increase. The households spent more time on the News Channels to catch up on the spread of pandemic and government initiatives on lockdown. On the other side, the GEC offered only repeat telecasts of films and rehash of serials which were of no great entertainment value.

The reports about Sony-Viacom18 merger have once again gained momentum. 

According to a report by news agency IANS, a merger of Sony Pictures Network and Viacom 18 is in the final stage and likely to be announced soon. As per sources close to the deal,  Sony will hold 74 per cent stake in the merged entity, while RIL and Viacom who are 51:49 JV partners in Viacom 18, will retain the remaining 26 per cent.

This development was also mentioned by Viacom 18’s former COO Raj Nayak, who tweeted, “Interesting: Sony to own 74 per cent after merger with Viacom 18; ready for duel with Disney Star.”

If the Sony-Viacom18 deal comes through, it can become a formidable competition for Disney-Star, especially in the Hindi general entertainment (GEC) genre, and will usher in a new competition among the existing GEC players, say experts.

BENGALURU: Indian cable TV and broadband services provider Den Networks Ltd (Den) reported 3.8 percent lower consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2020 (Q1 2021, quarter or period under review) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (Q1 2020). Consolidated operating profit (simple EBITDA) for the period under review increased 55.2 percent in Q1 2021 as compared to Q1 2020. The company’s profit after tax (PAT) more than quadrupled (increased by 308 percent) y-o-y in Q1 2021. The company has pared its expenses in Q1 2021 as compared to Q1 2020.

Den reported consolidated operating revenues of Rs 301.31 crore and Rs 313.15 crore for Q1 2021 and Q1 2020 respectively. Consolidated EBITDA for Q1 2021 was Rs 63.93 crore, for Q1 2020 it was Rs 41.19 crore. PAT for the period under review was Rs 58.32 crore as compared to Rs 14.31 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Total Income (revenue) for the period was flat at Rs 364.47 crore as compared to Rs 364.40 crore in Q1 2020.